[Arnt]

Is that so? The London property market isn't propped up by poor Russians.

100% of Russia's richest man stays in Russia, but that doesn't mean that 100% of the most resourceful 10% stay there. Look at this, for example:

https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/property-news/fn...

I feel confident that the richest third of Russians bought almost all of those, and the poorest Russians few or none, so it's those without power who don't leave, because they can't. Lack of money/lawyers/resources diminishes your ability to arrange a residence permit in a foreign country.

[c_crank]

Those richest thirds of Russians are still under Putin's thumb.

[Arnt]

To some degree. The poorest third are under his thumb to a larger degree, don't you agree? The difference is best described as power.

[c_crank]

The power gained by their wealth is enough to make leaving the country easy, but not enough to "save" it, by any stretch.

[Arnt]

The modestly powerful can only effect modest improvements. Often local rather than national. If you think modest improvement is zero, then you are unquestionably right, they can't "save" it.