Sergei Pugachev: Inside Putin's rise
Sergei Pugachev helped Putin become President. Then they fell out. What does he know?
The Interview · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
Stephen Sackur is in Nice to speak to the former Russian oligarch and billionaire businessman Sergei Pugachev. He was once dubbed Putin’s banker, a close confidant who helped Putin reach the top. But their relationship soured. Pugachev was accused of massive financial crimes; he renounced his Russian citizenship and now lives with armed guards in the south of France. What does his extraordinary story tell us of Putin’s strengths and weaknesses?