My half brother is from aristocratic russian descent. He is more than fluent in Russian and is job is collecting intelligence datas.
He is knowing more than he will ever say about the Russian new Rich. These people aren't coming from the blue... but from the red.
They were red kulaks, nomenklatura boys or related to ex-KGB.
During the communist period plenty were midle managers or senior executives and from one day to the next they became owner of the firms they were managing.
Others were powerful state employees (secret service, police or army)n and thanks to their power took hold of monopoles, by a ruse, by co-option and by force.
The vodka-drinker cliché is not false but the main trait is that they are merciless and determined.

NitroX

What is the first rifle You display?
Makes me think of a Czech with a "splendid" (depends on your own taste) 500 NE Blaser Express, whom I hunted with last year in Africa.