Russia: Sanctions 'devastating' economy to commentators
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Ukrainian coder Vladyslav Huntyk co-founded his new mobile app Signal My Oligarch . The world continues to flag assets suspected of belonging to oligarchs under Western sanctions. Assets include bank accounts, real estate, boats, planes, and more. By putting power in the hands of the people, authorities can crowdsource intelligence gathering on an unprecedented scale.
Users simply open the app, take a picture of an asset, locate it, and the information is anonymously sent to the relevant authorities.
Huntyk told his Express.co.uk:
"The most convenient way is to ask people who know [about these properties] because you cannot tell just by looking that some properties belong to oligarchs."
"However, this information may be known by neighbors, for example. They may know that this is the property of an oligarch's daughter.
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``Or perhaps an employee who knows that a bank-specific bank account belongs to an oligarch.
"So they are trying to target a specific group of people who have this kind of information."
Asked if he thought the pressure could lead to a revolution in the Kremlin, Mr. Hantyk said: "Absolutely, I am sure of it."
In the 1990s, when nationalized industries were privatized and divided into networks of well-connected men, oligarchs, or politically connected One very wealthy business his leader became more prominent in Russia.
Many of Russia's oligarchs are deeply involved in and benefit from the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and some hold political positions.
Due to their proximity to Putin and their economic and social importance, many oligarchs are now under severe sanctions from the West.
Regarding Russian sanctions, Foreign Minister Liz Truss said:
"We are now facing the reality of what it means. , which is why we take a tougher stance.
"We are targeting oligarchs' private jets. We are targeting them.”
The founder of Signal My Oligarch says the app is essential because it makes it easy for Oligarchs to hide their assets.
You can do this by registering in your family's name or attributing it to a joint company.
By searching for oligarch assets, the group hopes to maximize the damage from Western sanctions and pressure the heart of the Russian government to stop the invasion. I'm in.
He stresses that the most important way the West can help is by arming Ukraine, but sanctions are the most serious because they attack President Putin from another angle. He said their efforts to ensure that they have a positive impact are also important.
Before the war, Mr. Huntyk worked as a freelance engineer for various companies in Europe and America.
This team of about 20 people is based around the world and has been working overtime to "use [computer] skills to fight this war."
This app does not ask for personal information or track your IP address or location.
Users open the app, enter fake personal information to create an account, and submit information about Oligarch's assets (including their location) to the report before deleting the app.
The report goes through Google servers, at which time the Signal my Oligarch team verifies the photos and information before sending them to the relevant government authorities.
Huntyk claimed that the app already provided "really solid" information, which was passed on to authorities charged with sanctioning oligarchs. ing.
Huntyk added: He doesn't want our land. He doesn't want territory.
"His main goal is to want to rebuild the Soviet Union in a new and, in his opinion, better way.
"But that is why we will win this war. Because we are not fighting for territory, we are fighting for survival as a nation.
``He is an old man. and he will be, but not in the way he wants."
