City Of London
Abramovich’s Billionaire Ally Takes on UK in Sanctions Challenge
- Shvidler says he’s suffered hardships since sanctions hit
- London suit the first of its kind since Russia invaded Ukraine
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A billionaire and “close” partner of oligarch Roman Abramovich has become the first person to challenge the UK’s Russian sanctions regime in a London court.
Lawyers for Eugene Shvidler, who has long been associated with Abramovich, filed the claim last month, saying that the UK made “significant errors” in its assessment of Shvidler’s relationship with the former owner of Chelsea Football Club. Shvidler, a British citizen who saw his private jets impounded by the UK, says he’s suffered “serious hardships” since being designated last March, and sought to push back against a government minister who dubbed him a Putin crony.