Starmer tells Abramovich to ‘pay up now’ or face courtroom | EUROtoday

The Prime Minister has mentioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich should “pay up now” to victims of the battle in Ukraine or face courtroom motion.

Mr Abramovich, the previous proprietor of Chelsea Football Club, pledged in 2022 that cash from the sale of the membership can be used to profit victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The cash has been frozen in a British checking account because the sale after he was sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But there was a delay in releasing the funds on account of a disagreement between the UK authorities and his legal professionals.

Speaking within the Commons, Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the UK had issued a licence “to transfer £2.5bn from the sale of Chelsea Football Club that’s been frozen since 2022.”

Sir Keir mentioned: “My message of Abramovich is clear: the clock is ticking.

“Honour the dedication that you simply made and pay up now, and if you happen to do not we’re ready to go to courtroom and be sure that each penny reaches these whose lives have been torn aside by Putin’s unlawful battle.”

The government first threatened to sue Mr Abramovich in June.

The Treasury said that under the terms of the licence, the money must go to “humanitarian causes” in Ukraine and cannot benefit Mr Abramovich or any other sanctioned individual.

The UK government wants the money to be for Ukrainian humanitarian aid, but Mr Abramovich has said he wants it to go to “all victims of the battle in Ukraine”.

Mr Abramovich – a Russian billionaire who made his fortune in oil and gas – was granted a special licence to sell Chelsea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, providing he could prove he would not benefit from the sale.

He is alleged to have strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, something he has denied.

He can not entry the £2.5bn sale proceeds underneath UK sanctions however the cash nonetheless legally belongs to him.