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Roman Abramovich was one of seven Russians hit on Thursday by a sweeping asset freeze and travel ban imposed by the British government. It was Britain’s biggest crackdown on a Russian oligarch since Russia invaded Ukraine.
British government officials said the freeze meant Abramovich could not go ahead with his plans to sell Chelsea FC.
Abramović also holds Israeli and Portuguese nationalities. Britain has accused him of benefiting, economically and otherwise, for decades from his close relationship with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president.
Those on the new sanctions list include Oleg Deripaska, founder of London-listed metals group EN+, and Igor Deripaska, chief executive of Rosneft and one of Putin’s most trusted confidants. Igor Sechin.
Also on the list of sanctions published by the UK Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation are VTB chairman Andrei Kostin, Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller, Transneft President Nikolai Tokarev and Bank Rossiya Chairman Dmitry Lebe Jeff (Dmitri Lebedev).
Abramovich is also accused of participating in destabilizing and threatening Ukraine through Evraz, the London-listed steel group he actually controls.
The Office of Financial Sanctions Enforcement said Evraz was involved in “providing financial services or arranging for the provision of funds, economic resources, commodities or technology for activities that could destabilize Ukraine”. This includes “potential supply to the Russian military of steel that may have been used in the production of tanks,” the office added.
Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, said: “There can be no safe haven for those who support Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.”
He added: “Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s steadfast support for the people of Ukraine. We will not spare those who create the conditions for the killing of civilians, the destruction of hospitals and the illegal occupation of a sovereign ally.”
Liz Truss, UK foreign secretary, said: “Today’s sanctions show once again that oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy or society. These people’s close ties to Putin show that they are his aggressors. complicity in the act.”
“They have the blood of the Ukrainian people on their hands. They should bow their heads in shame.”
She added: “Our support for Ukraine will not waver. We will not stop this mission to increase pressure on Putin’s regime and cut off funding for his brutal war machine.”
Chelsea will be allowed to make payments “essential to the continued operation of the club” under a special licence. The club can continue to receive broadcast and bonus revenue, but cannot sell new tickets. With Abramovich being sanctioned, any funds received by Chelsea must be frozen.
A government official told the FT: “The current licence does not allow the club to be sold now. The government will consider licence applications for the sale of the club. We should make it clear that any such licence will not allow sanctioned Individuals benefited from asset sales while under sanctions.”
Translator/He Li