London: Britain Chelsea soccer club owner banned Roman Abramovich And Igor Sechin, the chief executive of Russian oil giant Rosneft, is hitting him with an asset freeze and travel ban because of his ties to the Russian president. Vladimir Putin,
Two billionaires plus businessman Oleg Deripaska and four other Russian oligarchs are the most high-profile figures to be added to the British sanctions list since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and follow criticism that Britain is acting too slowly.
The action shelved Abramovich’s plans to sell the Premier League club, the current European champions, although the government said the team could still continue to play.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “there can be no safe haven for those who have supported Putin’s vicious attack on Ukraine.”
“Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, the destruction of hospitals and the illegal occupation of sovereign allies.”
There were strong calls from British lawmakers to take action against Abramovich and other Russian oligarchs, with criticism that Johnson’s government was not moving faster than the European Union and the United States.
Sechin, whom Britain described as Putin’s right-hand man, was already on the US and EU sanctions lists and his yacht was confiscated by French authorities last week.
Others on the list were Oleg Deripaska, who holds a stake in the N+ Group, Bank Rossia’s chairman Dmitry Lebedev, energy company Gazprom’s chief executive Alexey Miller, and Nikolai Tokarev, president of the Russian-owned pipeline company. Transneft.
In all, Britain said, the seven figures added to the sanctions list had a net worth of £15 billion. ($19.74 billion).
Thursday’s action means Abramovich is banned from dealing with British individuals and businesses, and cannot enter or live in the UK. His spokesman declined immediate comment.
Last week, he announced he would sell Chelsea and donate money from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine.
Abramovich is the largest shareholder in the London-listed Russian steel maker Average. It fell 16% after the sanctions were announced.
The entry on Britain’s sanctions list described Abramovich, whom Britain said was worth £9 billion, “a prominent Russian businessman and supporter kremlin elite”. It added that he had enjoyed “decades of close relations” with the Russian president.
It said that this association with Putin brought Abramovich financial or material benefits directly from the Russian president or the Russian government.
“This includes tax breaks obtained by companies linked to Abramovich, the purchase and sale of shares from and to the state at favorable rates, and contracts obtained for the FIFA 2018 World Cup,” the website said.
Two billionaires plus businessman Oleg Deripaska and four other Russian oligarchs are the most high-profile figures to be added to the British sanctions list since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and follow criticism that Britain is acting too slowly.
The action shelved Abramovich’s plans to sell the Premier League club, the current European champions, although the government said the team could still continue to play.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “there can be no safe haven for those who have supported Putin’s vicious attack on Ukraine.”
“Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, the destruction of hospitals and the illegal occupation of sovereign allies.”
There were strong calls from British lawmakers to take action against Abramovich and other Russian oligarchs, with criticism that Johnson’s government was not moving faster than the European Union and the United States.
Sechin, whom Britain described as Putin’s right-hand man, was already on the US and EU sanctions lists and his yacht was confiscated by French authorities last week.
Others on the list were Oleg Deripaska, who holds a stake in the N+ Group, Bank Rossia’s chairman Dmitry Lebedev, energy company Gazprom’s chief executive Alexey Miller, and Nikolai Tokarev, president of the Russian-owned pipeline company. Transneft.
In all, Britain said, the seven figures added to the sanctions list had a net worth of £15 billion. ($19.74 billion).
Thursday’s action means Abramovich is banned from dealing with British individuals and businesses, and cannot enter or live in the UK. His spokesman declined immediate comment.
Last week, he announced he would sell Chelsea and donate money from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine.
Abramovich is the largest shareholder in the London-listed Russian steel maker Average. It fell 16% after the sanctions were announced.
The entry on Britain’s sanctions list described Abramovich, whom Britain said was worth £9 billion, “a prominent Russian businessman and supporter kremlin elite”. It added that he had enjoyed “decades of close relations” with the Russian president.
It said that this association with Putin brought Abramovich financial or material benefits directly from the Russian president or the Russian government.
“This includes tax breaks obtained by companies linked to Abramovich, the purchase and sale of shares from and to the state at favorable rates, and contracts obtained for the FIFA 2018 World Cup,” the website said.