Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea FC from Ken Bates in 2003. After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Abramovich relinquished control of the club.
The former Chelsea owner believes it is right to freeze his assets, but the penalties “only” harm the club, fans and staff. He says he cannot understand the significance of the actions taken regarding Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine.
I also don’t think ordinary people in Moscow are hiding in the basement because they can’t watch the Chelsea game on TV. As usual, it’s normal people who suffer, he says daily Mail.
He also wonders what the future and security of Chelsea’s staff will look like.
– What about the fans? What is their relationship to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine? Sanctions do not matter to Russia. Bates believes that if England wants to help Ukraine, something more meaningful should be done.
The hour of settlement is approaching
accept it
Last week, the British government sanctioned him as part of an effort to crack down on wealthy Russians with assets in the country. According to an official statement issued by the British authorities, all of Abramovich’s assets have been frozen.
On Monday, AFP reported that Roman Abramovich and many Russian oligarchs will be affected when the European Union soon comes up with a new sanctions package against Russia.
He further announced that Abramovich would be added to the list of businessmen whose assets may be confiscated and denied entry to the European Union as a result of hostilities in Ukraine.
The government has stated that it will allow the sale of the club despite the sanctions imposed on Abramovich.
Friend of the President: Vladimir Putin and Roman Abramovich met in 2005. By that time, the latter was already on the way to building Chelsea. Photo: AP Photo
Show more
A big supporter of Putin
At the time of writing, it was unclear how close Putin and Abramovich really were. What seems absolutely certain is that both meant a lot to the other’s success.
It has already been documented by The Guardian in 2004 That Abramovich worked his way into so much confidence in Russian politics that former President Boris Yeltsin invited him to live in an apartment in the Kremlin.
It is said that relations with Putin were at least as strong as those of Abramovich and Yeltsin.
came out in the explanation To Boris Berezovsky, who in 2011 sued the current owner of Chelsea FC for fraud, Berezovsky and Abramovich had joined Putin before the turn of the millennium.
Berezovsky and Abramovich were two oligarchs who profited from the privatization of the Russian oil industry after the fall of the Soviet Union, and together they operated Sibneft, one of Russia’s largest oil producers.
BREAKING: Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich join Sibneft. Subsequently, Berezovsky filed a lawsuit against Abramovich. Photo: AP Photo
Show more
– Abramovich and I supported his candidacy (Putin, jour.anm.) and contributed a very large financial support. In the end, our support was so great that people in the political community thought it was our support for Putin that made him win the election, Berezovsky said in 2011.
In his explanation, Berezovsky explained that Abramovich, among other things, was at Putin’s birthday party in 1999, and that he was an important voice when the Russian president was to form his government.
Abramovich and Putin can also smile broadly when they agree Sibneft was acquired by state-owned Gazprom for €13 billion in 2005.
“Coffee trailblazer. Certified pop culture lover. Infuriatingly humble gamer.”
