The Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has lost a key legal battle against the EU, with the EU’s general court upholding sanctions imposed on him following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions, which came into effect in 2022, targeted close allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, including the 57-year-old Abramovich. His lawsuit against the EU Council sought to reverse these punitive actions, arguing against their validity. The General Court of the EU dismissed the lawsuit.
Court’s Ruling and Reasoning
The court in Brussels rejected Abramovich’s challenge, maintaining the sanctions and dismissing his claims for compensation. The ruling focused on Abramovich’s involvement in the Russian steel company Evraz, highlighting that the steel industry is a significant revenue source for the Russian government. The court’s decision affirmed that the EU Council had not erred in including and maintaining Abramovich’s name on the sanctions lists, given his role in the Evraz group.
Abramovich’s Response
Following the ruling, Abramovich expressed disappointment, contending that the court had overlooked certain arguments presented by the EU Council. He refuted the suggestion that he had benefitted from the Russian government or had the capacity to influence governmental decision-making, including in Russia. Abramovich emphasized that the court’s decision to maintain sanctions was based solely on his classification as a ‘Russian businessman’ under the broad EU regulations.
Impact of the Sanctions
Abramovich, who also holds Israeli and Portuguese citizenships, has also faced repercussions in the United Kingdom, where his assets were frozen in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This led to the sale of Chelsea football club for a record-breaking 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) to a consortium led by Todd Boehly, marking the end of Abramovich’s 19-year tenure with the club.
The EU court’s decision to uphold the sanctions against Roman Abramovich underscores the EU’s firm stance against individuals deemed to be supporting or benefitting from the Russian government, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.