Tory fundraiser attended by ex-Kremlin minister days after PM Sunak's tirade against Putin
Vladimir Chernukhin served as Putin's deputy finance minister in the early 2000s.
Days after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's tirade against Russian President Vladimir Putin, an ex-Kremlin minister was spotted at the Tories’ summer fundraising event, the Mirror reported. The bash, held Thursday evening (Jun 20) at the exclusive 42-acre Hurlingham Club in London, saw the attendance of Vladimir Chernukhin, who served as Putin's deputy finance minister in the early 2000s. As per the report, his wife is a major donor of the cash-strapped Conservatives, and she has been spotted with party leaders like Theresa May and Liz Truss in the past.
PM Sunak blasts Putin
It came just days after PM Sunak blasted Putin at the Ukraine peace summit on June 15 for having “no interest in genuine peace”.
Ironically, the Tories had also attacked Labour Party leader Keir Starmer last week saying he may act soft towards dictators. Conservatives on X posted his picture alongside Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un, with the caption, "They’re watching.”
Tories having tough time raising money
As per available data, the Tories have raised a mere $367,000 in the second week of the election campaign. On the other hand, the Labour party has raised a whopping $5.56 million in the same period.
Labour meanwhile attacked the Conservatives for "taking cash from absolutely anyone now."
"The cash-strapped Tories will clearly take cash from absolutely anyone now. Just as Nigel Farage reveals himself to be a Putin apologist the Tories are rolling out the red carpet to a former member of the Russian government," a Labour source was quoted as saying by the Mirror.
'No connection between two Vladimirs'
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Vladimir Chernukhin has rebuffed claims of him being linked to the Russian regime. "Any suggestion that Mr. and Mrs. Chernukhin have any connection to the regime of President Putin is categorically false and defamatory. Mr and Mrs Chernukhin do not support, and have never supported, the policies of President Putin. Mr. Chernukhin’s reasons for leaving Russia are well documented, where he was dismissed for his loyalty to Mikhail Kasyanov, a vocal critic of President Putin and opposition leader," the spokesperson said.
Watch:Gravitas: Rishi Sunak heckled, grilled by angry citizens during televised election debate
“As a British citizen, Lubov Chernukhin is entitled to make donations to political parties as she sees fit and any donation she has made, has been declared in accordance with the rules of the Electoral Commission. Mrs Chernukhin is a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin’s regime and is a staunch opponent of the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” they added.
(With inputs from agencies)