Oligarchs do not have 'quantum of influence' over Vladimir Putin says Kremlin

Sanctioning oligarchs will not work because they do not have “quantum of influence” over Vladimir Putin, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev has insisted.

Medvedev said the West was “foolish” to believe that they could cause popular discontent within the authorities by imposing a wave of sanctions.

"Let us ask ourselves: can any of these major businessmen have even the tiniest quantum of influence of the position of the country's leadership?" Medvedev said. "I openly tell you: no, no way."

Sanctions would only unify Russian society, he added.

One month into the war, the Kremlin is determined to continue its assault until it achieves the "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine.

According to Medvedev, opinion polls show that three-quarters of Russians still back the Kremlin’s decision to pursue a military operation and that even more people supported Putin.

He criticised Russians abroad who have spoken out against the war.

"You can be dissatisfied with some of the authorities' decisions, criticise the authorities - this is normal," he said.

"But you cannot take a stand against the state in such a difficult situation, because this is treason."

Thousands of people were earlier this month detained at nationwide demonstrations against Putin's war in Ukraine, an independent protest monitoring group said.