Who are Russian oligarchs Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg

Sanctions have been imposed on Russian oligarchs after President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of separatists regions of Ukraine.

The UK were among nations to punish Russia after they took the controversial decision to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk.

One of these sanctions is the freezing of assets of three prominent Russian oligarchs.

But what exactly is a Russian oligarch, and how much influence do they have.

Here’s everything you need to know.

What is a Russian oligarch?

An oligarch is an individual who makes incredible amounts of money through family ties and inheritance or through industry who also has religious or military control.

An ‘oligarch’ is a member of an ‘oligarchy’ - a power structure in which very few people hold a huge amount of power.

A Russian oligarch is commonly referred to as such if they rapidly amassed their mass wealth immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s and during mass privatisation in the country.

One of the best well-known examples of a Russian oligarch in UK culture is Roman Abramovich.

Mr Abramovich made headlines after buying London football club Chelsea in 2003.

Who is Gennady Timchenko?

One of the Russian oligarchs who has been hit by having his assets frozen in the UK is Gennady Timchenko.

Mr Timchenko is a 69-year-old oligarch and businessman who owns the private investment group, Volga Group.

He is also chairman of the Russian national hockey league KHL, president of the SKA Saint-Petersburg Hockey Club

He is believed to be worth $25.6billion.

Mr Timchenko is known as one of the most powerful people in Russia and is known to have close ties to President Vladimir Putin.

As a result the US placed the multi-billionaire under sanctions in 2014.

Who is Boris Rotenberg?

Boris Rotenberg is another Russian oligarch to be sanctions by the UK.

Alongside his older brother Arkady, Mr Rotenberg, 65, is the co-owner of SMP Bank.

According to Forbes, he is believed to be worth $1.2bn.

In 2014, he was also placed under sanctions by the US over his friendship with President Putin and the claims that he had been awarded billions of dollars in contracts with Russian state-backed energy firm Gazprom and for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

He was, however, not subject to EU sanctions due to having Finnish citizenship.

Who is Igor Rotenberg?

48-year-old Igor Rotenberg is the nephew of Boris and the son of Arkady.

Initially a junior partner in his father’s business, Mr Rotenberg now controls Gazprom Bureniye.

He is also a shareholder in Platon Electronic Toll Collection system.

Mr Rotenberg is believed to be worth around $1.1bn, and is linked to President Putin through his father.

Like his uncle and Mr Timchenko, he has had his assets frozen in the UK as a result of imposed sanctions.