In a Sour Season Between the U.K. and Russia, a New Casualty: Debutantes

Give me a break. Russian oligarchs unable to have proms and to be presented to society in the way they are accustomed. All because of those inconvenience poisoning’s on London soil. These are the same Oligarchs that are closely tied to Putin etc... Truly this article sounds tone deaf and they are likely in for more “inconvenience “ as if we ever truly investigated and addressed Russian interference in our elections and internationally then Russians may find themselves paying a steep price for their actions.

The sins of the parents fall upon the daughters? How pathetic reading the NYTimes commentary below as so many have fallen into their own abyss and strike out at others whom are just starting out in the world.

Wealthy Russians willing to drop thousands of $$$ to re-live their 200 years old lost history and they can afford it... No problem... But... let's keep in mind that most of these people are the sycophants of uncle Vlad and his echo chamber of anti-Americanism, anti-liberalism, troll factories, election wrecking and chem poisoning kleptocracy called Russian regime. As they say, some countries have mafia... in Russia, mafia has the country.

It's good to see that, at last, we've decided really to get tough with the Russians. When you go for the Deb Option, you get their attention.

Cities such as NYC, Miami, Tampa and likely Las Vegas are in need of similar legislation (if they don't have it already) to check into the provenances of luxury properties, as there are more than a few foreign property buyers with murky documentation, who have purchased property in big U.S. cities. Heck, there are probably more than a few in Trump tower alone! These people use LLCs to purchase properties in relatives' names. In the past, publications like The New York Times had written extensively about this. Has any progress been made on identifying who these people are and where their money came from?

It's pure decadence - nothing else. And Brits are paying for it and will continue to - until they realize that this ill gotten wealth is a posoned chalice. Most Brits who are "commoners" aspire just for a day to be members of the "high class" untouchable society. Go to the Ascots - to get a measure. This society - clinging to it's dwindling fortunes thanks to taxes and problems with inheritances - have embraced these thieves to replenish their stock and make themselves still relevant. Until this spineless British government realizes the poison eating out it's society - remember, we threw out more Russian diplomats over this murder than all nation's combined - Russians know that Brits care little for welfare of it's "commoners."

Is this where one can get one's money and one's costume laundered in one place?

When one witnesses the hardships endured by the majority of Russians in Russia, you can only feel contempt for those who have stolen the wealth of Russia and ensconced themselves in the West, feeding their children with the figurative gold stolen from the teeth of the poor.

They should not have waited until the deaths of civilians. Scrutiny of ill gotten gains should be part of the vetting process of everyone. Russian oligarchs, Chinese oligarchs, everyone. And with the recent shameless compromise of America's institutions, it's a wonder how long they escaped this vetting so far. Money laundering through real estate is also a problem in New York and other cities in North America. Thousands of apartments sit empty while working class citizens are shut out of housing. I guess crime does pay.

Not likely to be much honest earned rubles spent on that ball.

Cracking down on oligarchs or Putin apparatchiks is long, long overdue in this country, so I have little patience for an over-wealthy privileged few complaining about visa problems. While this sounds encouraging, the govt is not really very serious about tackling dirty money of Russian origin. They could take a look at the likes of KPMG, EY or PWC who profit from providing financial services and accounting to oligarchs (while ignoring ‘unusual’ or unknown sources of income for their new employer). But oh no, the UK government also employ these companies for various services. (There’s a good investigation into govt-employed orUK-based accountancy companies and their blind eye towards possible crimes/laundering in wealthy Russian accounts in Private Eye #1478).

It's hard to sympathize with the British visa woes of elite Russian debutants, given the hell that truly needy migrants suffer. What a fascinating, refreshing take on something that usually begins from, and ends with, geopolitical policy actors.

It’s ironic. While the British consumed with angst about brown skinned immigrants, great swaths of London have been taken over by Russian oligarchs.