Oligarch Abramovich does not wish to accept the transfer of £2,500,000,000 to Ukrainians 0 7

The UK government has demanded that Roman Abramovich transfer £2.5 billion (almost €3 billion) in frozen funds, which he received from the sale of Chelsea Football Club, for humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Otherwise, the matter will be taken to court, according to a statement from British authorities.

"The government is prepared to ensure that every penny reaches those whose lives have been shattered by Putin's illegal war," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. London reiterated that it expects Abramovich, who is under sanctions, to propose transferring funds to the "most vulnerable" groups in Ukraine affected by Russia's full-scale invasion. Abramovich himself believes that the money from the sale of Chelsea should go to "all victims of the war," including Russians.

Roman Abramovich announced the sale of Chelsea, which he owned for 19 years, in March 2022. The buyer was a group of investors led by American Todd Boehly and the private investment firm Clearlake Capital. A condition of the deal was Abramovich's refusal, as he is considered a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to gain any profit.

At that time, Roman Abramovich promised to direct the £2.5 billion raised to a charitable fund to assist those affected by the war in Ukraine. However, since then, the money has remained in a frozen account, as Abramovich and British authorities have been unable to reach an agreement on the terms of its transfer.

The situation is complicated by the fact that the businessman has not been charged with any offenses related to the assets he received after the sale of Chelsea. This legally complicates their seizure. Therefore, the UK authorities require the businessman’s consent to use these funds, which still remain his property.