The family of the ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykola Azarov, escaped the country in 2014. Following this, the EU leveled sanctions against Azarov and his son, Oleksiy, leading them to take refuge in Russia. As Mykola Azarov was spinning tales of "Ukrainian Nazis" to propagandists, cases against him and his family were quietly being buried in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Azarov clan and their associates were amassing real estate in Europe and launching new ventures. Today, Azarov Jr. comfortably controls a Russian mine, which was selling coal to European companies in 2022. Unencumbered by sanctions and the fear of international prosecution, he enjoys relative freedom.
Discover the story of how the Azarovs have managed to thrive following Russia's full-scale invasion in this insightful episode by Alisa Yurchenko.
Timestamps:
00:00 - The fugitive Prime Minister, Russian enterprises, and EU profits
01:37 - Azarov-affiliated companies' Kyiv office
04:15 - Azarov's assets in Vienna and Italy
08:00 - Advertisement
10:02 - The lifting of sanctions on the Azarovs: the reasons
11:28 - Azarov Jr.'s coal mine in Russia's Rostov region
16:11 - Anthracite sales to European corporations
19:05 - Oleksiy Azarov and Russian cotton wool