Roman Abramovich

Abramovich challenged his inclusion and continued presence on sanctions lists related to the war in Ukraine before the General Court of the European Union. Following several adverse decisions, the General Court again dismissed his application in case T-358/25 on 9 September 2026 and maintained the restrictive measures.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The proceeds from Chelsea's sale, pledged to humanitarian causes connected with the war in Ukraine, remained frozen for several years because of a disagreement over how they could be used. In December 2025, the UK government issued a licence allowing the transfer of more than £2.5 billion and gave Abramovich a 'final chance' before possible legal proceedings.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following Chelsea's acquisition in 2022, the new owners discovered and voluntarily disclosed financial irregularities dating from the Abramovich era. The Premier League established that undisclosed payments benefiting the club had been made between 2011 and 2018 and imposed fines of £10.75 million and transfer restrictions in March 2026. The FA subsequently sanctioned the club for 74 breaches of rules concerning agents, intermediaries and third parties.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Jersey authorities are investigating Abramovich's financial affairs over allegations of corruption and money laundering, with assets worth several billion pounds frozen. In 2026, Fordstam's accounts indicated that the investigation might also affect the treatment of the proceeds from Chelsea's sale.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Documents from Cyprus Confidential were interpreted by several media outlets as showing that companies linked to Abramovich had represented five yachts as being commercially operated in order to avoid VAT on their operating costs. Experts estimated that taxes might be payable in several jurisdictions.

State of the evidence

Allegations

An investigation based on leaked documents and court records estimated that offshore companies linked to Abramovich might effectively have been managed from the United Kingdom and therefore liable for UK tax on several billion pounds in profits. More than forty MPs asked HMRC to examine the case; under the published assumptions, interest and penalties could bring the amount at stake to approximately £1 billion.

Leaked documents indicated that at least €117 million may have been channelled to Vitesse Arnhem through entities linked to Abramovich, despite historical denials of financial control. The KNVB reopened its examination of these links; further documents subsequently suggested that financial connections had persisted.

State of the evidence

Documented

The United Kingdom sanctioned Abramovich following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, freezing his assets and imposing travel and transaction restrictions. The government cited his links to the Kremlin and to economic sectors benefiting the Russian government.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Abramovich sued HarperCollins and author Catherine Belton over passages in 'Putin's People', notably the claim that Vladimir Putin had ordered him to buy Chelsea. A judge had concluded that several passages were capable of bearing a defamatory meaning; the case was subsequently settled.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant

Under Abramovich's ownership, Chelsea was found by FIFA to have breached rules on the transfer and registration of underage players. FIFA initially imposed a transfer ban covering two registration windows and a fine of CHF 600,000.

State of the evidence

Documented

Documents released in 2018 showed that Swiss police had recommended refusing Abramovich a residence permit, citing security and reputational risks and suspicions involving money laundering and criminal contacts.

Attribution

Directly implicated

In Berezovsky v Abramovich, the British High Court examined Sibneft's creation and financial dealings between Abramovich, Boris Berezovsky and Badri Patarkatsishvili. The judgment found that payments had been made for protection and political influence, described as 'krysha', and considered that the $1.3 billion payment in 2001 had terminated those obligations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated