Putin’s former ‘pal’ got UK visa after now-sanctioned Russian oligarch fixed up job

Exclusive:

Vladimir Chernukhin, President Putin’s former finance minister, claimed in a court case that he obtained a UK work visa – and eventually British citizenship – because oligarch Oleg Deripaska arranged a job for him in this country

Vladimir Putin’s former ‘pal’ was handed a UK visa after a now-sanctioned Russian oligarch fixed him up with a job.

Priti Patel has defended stringent checks on Ukrainian refugees, claiming Putin could be sending Russian agents to the UK with biological weapons, posing as women and children fleeing the conflict.

But in 2004 the Home Office granted Vladimir Chernukhin, Mr Putin’s former deputy finance minister, a work visa – and eventually British citizenship – because oligarch Oleg Deripaska arranged a job for him in this country, according to claims made by Mr Chernukhin in court.

Mr Chernukhin’s wife, Lubov, has since become the biggest female political donor in UK history, stuffing Tory coffers to the tune of almost £2m.

Last week it emerged she was at a Tory fundraising dinner, also attended by Boris Johnson, on the night of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Financier Nat Rothschild was said to have created a £275,000-a-year job for Mr Chernukhin so he could qualify for a working visa.

Giving evidence in the High Court in 2018, Mr Chernukhin said he worked with another employee of Mr Rothschild’s firm on a liquid natural gas project in New York.

A spokesperson for Mr Chernukhin said this was his job until he secured leave to remain.

There’s no suggestion of wrongdoing or breach of immigration rules on the part of Mr Rothschild in creating a job for Mr Chernukin.

The admissions were made during a months-long legal battle between Mr Chernukhin and his former business partner, the oligarch Oleg Derpiaska – whom Mr Chernukhin said had arranged the job for him.

Mr Deripaska has been placed on the list of Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the UK government in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

Last month, Mr Rothschild – a former business partner of Mr Deripaska – tweeted to Prime Minister Boris Johnson: “Sanction all Russian big businessmen NOW.”

Mr Chernukhin’s wife, Lubov, has become the biggest female political donor in British history, stuffing Tory coffers to the tune of almost £2m.

She has paid for access to the highest levels of government, including cosy dinners with then-Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, and a ‘girls’ night out’ with then-Prime Minister Theresa May and now-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

And she successfully bid £160,000 for a tennis match with Boris Johnson and Tory co-chair Ben Elliot.

Mrs Chernukhin is a British citizen, is entitled to make political donations and secured her UK passport separately from Mr Chernukhin.

There’s no suggestion that Mrs Chernukhin’s donations are funded by Mr Chernukhin.

There’s no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Mr Chernukhin.

In court, Mr Chernukhin said his “sudden” move to Britain was prompted by a colleague being arrested on corruption charges.

He said he believed the charges were politically motivated, and an attempt by the KGB to get to him.

But unlike others fleeing the country after ‘falling out’ with Putin, Mr Chernukhin came to the UK with millions in cash and assets.

The court heard he had “at least $300 million” in his account when he arrived in the UK.

And he still held millions of pounds worth of business and property interests in Moscow until at least 2017.

Mr Chernukhin started his career as a civil servant during the soviet era, before securing a top role at the Russian state owned bank Vnesheconombank.

After President Putin came to power, Mr Chernukhin was appointed deputy finance minister – and reportedly earned the nickname “Putin’s Protege.”

He was fired from this role in 2004, and left Russia for the UK.

“Legally I make an application for work permit, and I was advised that I have to collect 75 points,” he told the court. “I collected 120 points, and I was granted working visa in the UK.”

But he explained he needed to find an employer in order to qualify for a working visa.

He said: “Mr Deripaska, with his kindness, he ask Nathaniel Rothschild to help me with that.

“Because you have to understand that my escape from Russia was not planned and prepared.” Asked in court if he did any work for Mr Rothschild, Mr Chernukhin said: “I did not work for Mr Rothschild, but I was sitting in his office in [Mr Rothschild’s company] JNR in St James Place 4.

“I was communicated with…the chairman of JNR, he was American, and we were working…they have at that time the project to build [a liquid natural gas factory]. They get a planning consent to build this gas factory…in the middle of New York.”

And he said he was “extremely busy” creating his own “real estate empire” at the time.

Speaking with the aid of an interpreter, Mr Chernukhin added: “At first you have to obtain points. If you obtain enough points, you can get working visa.

“And only after some years spent here, after four years you can convert your visa to leave to remain.”

Mr Deripaska’s lawyer, Justin Fenwick QC, asked him: “That was the reason that you needed to be employed by Mr Rothschild, wasn’t it?”

Mr Chernukhin replied: “Exactly. Just for visa.”

Mr Rothschild said: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is utterly deplorable and I am unequivocal in my complete and total condemnation for the actions of Putin’s regime.

“Sanctioning Russia in the strongest terms and taking every step available to support the Ukrainian people should now be the West’s sole focus in order to bring about as swift a resolution to the war as possible.

“There must be peace in Ukraine.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We do not comment on individual cases.”

A Conservative Party source said while we couldn’t comment on the immigration system run by a Labour government 17 years ago, they noted Mr Chernukhin was fleeing Russia because of his support for a leading critic of Putin at the time.