The term "Londongrad" has become synonymous with the era of post-Soviet excess, representing a unique intersection of British high society and Russian billionaire wealth. In their investigative work, Mark Hollingsworth and Stewart Lansley peel back the layers of London's luxury real estate, private security, and legal systems to show how the UK capital became the preferred sanctuary for the Russian oligarchs. The Appeal of the Thames

Britain’s libel laws and robust property rights offered a level of protection unavailable in Moscow.

For years, the British government maintained a "light-touch" regulatory approach, welcoming investment with few questions asked about its origin. A Culture of Excess