The general manager of the Russian internet giant Yandex has left Russia and resigned after her boss attended the meeting. Another high-profile figure, Oleg Tinkov, the founder of the popular Russian internet bank that bears his name, harshly criticized the Russian leader. Hours later, the bank announced that Mr Tinkov was selling his stake and that his name would likely be removed from its trademark. Although it is never publicly expressed, there is great unhappiness with the Kremlin’s policies even in state giants such as Gazprom, Volobuyev said. The Russian-born Russian businessman cited recent conversations with senior Gazprom and other executives who are privately complaining about Vladimir Putin’s disastrous war against Ukraine.
“I have nothing right now”
“I know people whose views are very different from what they say in public at work,” he said. “There was this well-known figure at Gazprom who told me, ‘I do not understand what Putin needs Ukraine for.’ There is, however, very little appetite for protest or any public stand among Gazprom executives, he said. Mr Volobuyev has not been able to reach his homeland, Okhtyrka, which is still an active war zone. However, he managed to spend a few days with his father before the 75-year-old, who had never been abroad, fled to Europe as a refugee. The first thing the executive officer did when he arrived in Ukraine was to show up at the military commissioner’s office and volunteer for the Kiev territorial defense, but he was told – even without his Russian passport – that he did not need a 50-year-old without a military uniform. Record. “I was told it was impossible, but I am taking steps to see what I can do,” he said. “I do not have anything at the moment. “But I would rather sleep on the street than leave Ukraine.” Mr Volobuyev now wants to help the mayor of Okhtyrka lure foreign investors to help rebuild his country. More than a third of residential buildings and the only power station have been destroyed by Russian artillery. The former Gazprom executive said he felt the need to “repent” for his work for the Russian state – in front of his Ukrainian family and friends. He wants only one thing from Russia: Justice for the war crimes committed in Ukraine. “Putin must be tried and hanged. “But only in accordance with the law.”
