EU Court upholds sanctions against Abramovich
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Wednesday upheld the inclusion of former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on the European Union's sanctions list following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The ruling is a major setback for Abramovich, who had argued that the sanctions were illegal and violated his fundamental rights.
The ECJ found that the EU had "sufficient evidence" to justify the sanctions, including Abramovich's close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his role as a major shareholder in Evraz, a Russian steel and mining company.
The court also rejected Abramovich's claims that the sanctions violated his right to free movement as a European Union citizen.
"The ECJ's ruling is a clear victory for the EU's sanctions regime," said a European Commission spokesperson. "It sends a strong message that those who support the Russian government will be held accountable."
The ruling is also a blow to Abramovich's efforts to sell Chelsea Football Club, which he put up for sale in March 2022. The club is currently under the control of a British government-appointed trust.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
