Russian oligarch 2004, Putin apparently engaged in a power-struggle with some oligarchs, reaching a "grand bargain" with them. This bargain allowed the oligarchs to maintain their powers, in exchange for their explicit support of – and alignment with – Putin's government. Many more business people have become oligarchs during Putin's time in power, and often due to personal relations with Putin, such as the rector of the institute where Putin obtained a degree in 1996, Vladimir Litvinenko, and Putin's childhood friend and judo-teacher Arkady Rotenberg. However, other analysts argue that the oligarchic structure has remained intact under Putin, with Putin devoting much
David Rotenberg David Rotenberg David Rotenberg (born July 24, 1930) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1977 to 1985 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party, and was briefly a cabinet minister in the government of Frank Miller. Rotenberg was born in Toronto, and educated at the University of Toronto. He worked as an insurance agent, and served on Toronto City Council and Metro Toronto Council from 1961 to 1972. In the 1972 election he ran for mayor, and lost to David Crombie in a close, three-way race. Rotenberg was later