(Bloomberg) -- A costly visa favored by Russian oligarchs and other wealthy investors should be completely revised because it was widely exploited and applicants weren’t adequately vetted, according to a report that laid out the scale of Russian infiltration in U.K. society and politics.

“The U.K. welcomed Russian money, and few questions -- if any -- were asked about the provenance of this considerable wealth,” according to the report published on Tuesday by a panel of lawmakers. “One key measure would be an overhaul of the Tier 1 (Investor) visa program -- there needs to be a more robust approach to the approval process for these visas.”

The program, which is open to those from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland, is appealing to ultra-rich foreigners as it allows recipients to stay in the U.K. for three years and four months in exchange for a 2 million-pound ($2.5 million) investment.

London has long been a particularly appealing jurisdiction for billionaire Russians to do business, hold their wealth and educate their children, so much so that the capital has been nicknamed Londongrad. The report not only criticized the embrace of Russian oligarchs but the cottage industry of “enablers” that formed around it.

“Any measures now being taken by the government are not preventative but rather constitute damage limitation,” the report said. “Lawyers, accountants, estate agents and PR professionals have played a role, wittingly or unwittingly, in the extension of Russian influence which is often linked to promoting the nefarious interests of the Russian state.”

Any visa changes could hamper other wealthy foreigners from around the world seeking a foothold in Britain. Chinese investors have increasingly turned to the visa in recent years, which has drawn the attention of Westminster before.

The Home Office announced a suspension in late 2018 to implement changes designed to mitigate money laundering and organized crime threats. It later reversed course.

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