The Oligarchs

The 1990s saw a new revolution in Russia. The end of communism marked a rush towards capitalism.

A small group of emerging power-brokers drove this transformation.

They used tactics learned under the old regime: secrecy, daring, bank robbery, making common cause with criminals to stay one step ahead of the law and strike at the state wherever it was weakest.

They succeeded in turning the assets of the state into cash - and then stole it, in one of the biggest smash-and-grabs in history.

They, now, control vast fortunes and exert unprecedented power.

They are the Oligarchs. Boris Berezovsky became the so-called 'Godfather of the Kremlin', with the ability to make and unmake governments.

A young chemical engineer, Mikhail Khordokovsky, became the unscrupulous, power-hungry head of one of the biggest oil companies in the world; and a former maker of plastic ducks, Roman Abramovich, became the banker to the Yeltsin 'family' and went on to become the second-richest man in Russia.

Many of these oligarchs are coming to Britain, bringing with them their money and influence - buying up football clubs and country estates.They are escaping President Putin's attempts to draw power, money and infrastructure back into the state.

But, what else are the Russian robber-barons bringing with them to this country?

Tying into a major four-part "BBC 2" series, "The Oligarchs" shows us the remarkable rise to power of Russia's new ruling class and how the state-approved conspiracy, which ultimately made their fortunes, actually worked.

It looks to the future as Russia stages a fight-back against corruption.

It is a shocking story of crime, greed, political infighting, and unfettered power.