Roman Abramovich takes Jersey to European human rights court over Chelsea sale proceeds | Roman Abramovich
According to reports, Roman Abramovich went to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), claiming that the criminal investigation into his financial affairs by Jersey authorities violated his human rights.
The former owner of Chelsea FC, who was sanctioned in England for his links to Vladimir Putin, is under investigation in Jersey over allegations of corruption and money laundering.
In the case submitted to the ECHR, Abramovich’s lawyers said that the actions taken on the Channel Island, where Abramovich’s £5.3 billion assets were frozen, were “unfair and malicious”.
The investigation previously led a company owned by the billionaire oligarch to warn that £2.4bn of proceeds from the sale of Chelsea, which was promised to victims of the Ukraine war but has not yet been released, could be viewed by Jersey as proceeds of crime.
Abramovich’s representatives told the Times: “This investigation, which has continued for years without any charges, transparency or credible evidence, represents a clear abuse of power and violation of fundamental rights by the Jersey government.
“The authorities withheld important information and disregarded basic procedural safeguards showed that this was a politically motivated process, not a legitimate legal process.”
“We expect the European Court of Human Rights to recognize these failures and reach the same conclusion.”
Abramovich had previously been successful in a legal bid to force ministers and other senior figures in Jersey to produce private messages, emails and other data about him that would be made public as a result of the investigation.
His claim at the ECHR alleges a violation of his right to a fair trial under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, according to the Times, which first reported the application.
According to the report, Abramovich claims that his right to privacy under Article 8 was also violated in the public announcement regarding Jersey’s investigation in 2022, as he was not charged with any crime.
According to the report, the UK government is the official addressee of the claim, according to documents.
The oligarch’s representatives say the Jersey case is delaying the release of funds from the sale of Chelsea. The British government has threatened to sue Abramovich to force the release of the funds over disagreements over how the money will be used.
Britain wants the money ring-fenced for use in Ukraine, in line with wider pressure on Moscow to pay for the devastation caused by the invasion of Europe.
But Abramovich said he wants more flexibility in how the money he pledges to donate to charity is spent.
When he announced his intention to sell the club in March 2022, he said the proceeds would be used “for the benefit of all war victims in Ukraine”, leaving open the possibility that the money could be directed to parts of Ukraine annexed by Russia.
The Guardian has approached the government and Abramovich for comment.
