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
Abie Rotenberg Abie Rotenberg Abie Rotenberg () is a prolific Orthodox Jewish musician, composer and entertainer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has been producing music since the mid-1970s with a style which has been described as "soft and sweet" with a strong folk influence. Rotenberg grew up in Queens, New York surrounded by other up and coming religious Jewish musicians, including Eli Teitelbaum, who directed the first "Pirchei" boys choir, as well as Rabbi Baruch Chait and Label Sharfman who attended "yeshiva" with him. Rotenberg studied piano and taught himself guitar at a young age. Rotenberg has cited musicians Rabbi Benzion Shenker,