EU, UK Add Further Russia Sanctions, Including on Chelsea Owner Abramovich
The U.K. and the EU added another wave of individuals to their Russia sanctions regime following the invasion of Ukraine. The U.K.'s newest additions include Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea Football Club, who has announced his intentions to sell the club. Abramovich was listed as a "prominent Russian businessman" due to his stewardship of the popular club, and a stakeholder in Evraz and Norilsk Nickel and as a "pro-Kremlin oligarch." The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation further explained that Abramovich has a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that this relationship has enabled Abramovich to reap financial benefits from the Russian government.
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Along with Abramovich's listing, OFSI issued a General License authorizing payment, allowances and pensions of all club employees until May 31. The license also allows for the payment of fees, dividends or other allowances to club directors, reasonable fees or other costs related to club maintenance, reasonable travel costs to and from fixtures for players and essential staff, reasonable costs for hosting games and interclub payments to discharge pre-March 10 obligations. The license permits anyone who bought tickets or season passes before March 10 to attend games and allows broadcasts of any Chelsea games.
Other U.K. additions are Igor Ivanovich Sechin, CEO of Rosneft; Oleg Deripaska, prominent Russian businessman; Dmitri Lebedev, Bank Rossiya board chairman; Alexei Miller, Gazprom CEO; and Andrei Kostin, VTB Bank president.
The EU added 14 oligarchs and prominent businesspeople and 146 members of the Russian Federation Council to its Russian sanctions regime, the European Council announced. The council members ratified the treaties recognizing the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, the EU said. This move brings the EU's Russia sanctions total to 862 individuals and 53 entities, subjecting all to an asset freeze and travel ban.
"We are adding today to our sanctions list further key individuals and their family members who have a significant economic role in supporting Putin’s regime, and benefit financially from the system," EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell said. "They are now subject to asset freeze and travel bans. Our message is clear: Those who enable the invasion of Ukraine pay a price for their actions."