Michael Chugani 褚简宁 - oligarchy｜又中又英

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shone a spotlight on Russia's oligarchs. Before the invasion， the oligarchs lived a high life as well as a high-profile life. They owned luxury yachts, mansions, and well-known football teams. Now they are trying to keep a low profile because the US and other Western countries have sanctioned many Russian oligarchs. The expression "shine a spotlight" on someone or something means to bring attention to someone or something. An oligarch is a ruler in an oligarchy. An oligarchy refers to a country ruled by a small group of powerful people. The word "oligarchy" comes from ancient Greece where it was called "oligarkhia" which means "the rule of the few". To live a high life means to live an extravagant and exciting life. Most rich people live a high life.

The US and other Western countries say Russian President Vladimir Putin is an oligarch. They say Russia is an oligarchy ruled by Putin and a small and powerful group of his allies. An oligarch, especially when referring to Russia, also means a very rich and politically powerful businessman. Russian oligarchs became very rich in the 1990s after the fall of the former Soviet Union when businesses were privatized. They often used illegal means to make money. They lived a high life， especially in London, where they bought yachts, private jets, and mansions. When Putin came to power he allowed the oligarchs to continuing living a high life on condition they kowtow to his rule.

After Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe sanctioned many of the Russian oligarchs. They accused the oligarchs of supporting the invasion by not criticizing Putin. They also accused the oligarchs of partly financing the invasion. The oligarchs tried to hide their money to prevent Western governments from freezing their assets. But the US was still able to seize some yachts and freeze some assets belonging to oligarchs with close ties to Putin.
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俄罗斯入侵乌克兰，连带将国际注意力聚焦在（shone a spotlight）一众俄罗斯商业寡头（oligarchs）身上。侵略前，那些商业寡头（oligarchs）养尊处优、生活奢华（high life）而高调，他们拥有奢华的游艇、豪宅，以及知名的足球队；现在他们尝试低调过活，因为美国和其他西方国家已制裁了许多俄罗斯商业寡头（oligarchs）。习语"shine a spotlight" on someone or something意思是令某人或某事受到关注。An oligarch就是一个oligarchy中的统治者，而oligarchy 则指实行寡头统治的国家，由一小撮有权势的人掌权。"Oligarchy"一字来自古希腊语，本身的写法是"oligarkhia"，意即「少数人的统治」。To live a high life就是奢侈地生活，尽情吃喝玩乐。许多富豪都是生活极尽奢华（live a high life）。

美国和其他西方国家指，俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京是个寡头统治者（oligarch）。他们说，俄罗斯是寡头统治国家（oligarchy），由普京和一小撮跟他同盟、有权力的人执政。An oligarch——尤其是指俄罗斯的话——也解作一个非常富有，以及在政治上很有权力的商人。在一九九○年代前苏联解体之后，企业私有化让俄罗斯的寡头（oligarchs）变得非常有钱。他们当时常用不法的途径致富。他们生活奢华（high life），特别在伦敦买了不少游艇、私人飞机和豪宅。当普京上台时，他容许这些商业寡头（oligarchs）继续过他们奢华的生活（high life），条件是他们得臣服于他的统治之下。

普京侵略乌克兰之后，美国、加拿大、日本和欧洲经济制裁了许多俄罗斯商业寡头（oligarchs）。他们指控这些商业寡头（oligarchs）支持侵略，因为他们不去批评普京。他们也指控这些商业寡头（oligarchs）在一定程度上资助了侵略行动。商业寡头们（oligarchs）尝试隐藏他们的资金，避免西方国家政府冻结他们的资产。但对于那些跟普京有密切关系的寡头（oligarchs），美国仍然能够没收属于他们的一些游艇，以及冻结其部份资产。
中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁