On Tuesday March 29, during the opening of negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, it was with astonishment that we discovered the presence of the famous Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, a few hours after the revelation, by the Wall Street Journal, of his possible poisoning at the beginning of March. “The images of the oligarch chatting with Turkish President Erdogan in Istanbul have been broadcast around the world”, writes the Russian daily Moscow Komsomolets. And the Kremlin confirmed its special status as “facilitator” between the Russian side and the Ukrainian side.
The tabloid asked three political scientists why, among the many Russian oligarchs, it was the former Chelsea club boss who was chosen as an “unofficial mediator”, and how his presence had been approved by both parties. According to Yevgeny Mintchenko, the reason is primarily that he remained “close enough” of Vladimir Putin since the end of the 1990s. Moreover, unlike other big Russian bosses, Roman Abramovich has experience of political life: at the age of 55, he was a member of the Federal Duma, governor of Chukotka ( 2001-2008), then Chairman of the Chukotka Assembly (2008-2013). Finally, he enjoys a “serious reputation” in the West as “investor, patron and benefactor” of a performing football club