3-6-2025
Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is facing a lawsuit from the British government in their bid to force him to spend the money he got from the sale of Chelsea on Ukraine aid efforts.
The government seeks to direct the $3.4 billion Abramovich received when he sold the Premier League club in March 2022 to funds to humanitarian aid.
“The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy and British Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in a joint statement.
Abramovich, however, has stated he would like the proceeds to benefit “all victims of the war in Ukraine,” including those in Russia.
He has retained legal control of the funds have remained frozen in a British bank account since the sale as Abramovich was sanctioned in February 2022 following Russia and the government said Tuesday it would take legal action to gain control of where the funds are sent.
“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr. Abramovich so far,” Lammy and Reeves said. “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”