Roman Abramovich

Billionaire Roman Abramovich demanded that the European Union lift the sanctions imposed on him and pay him $1 million. It is reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The businessman said that he is a citizen of Portugal, which became a member of the European Union in 2021. At the same time, the sanctions imposed on him violate his fundamental rights protected by the EU. Abramovich also hired lawyers in the United States to challenge the arrest of his two planes.

The billionaire demanded that the money be transferred to a charitable foundation he set up during the sale of the Chelsea club. Abramovich sold Chelsea FC to a consortium of investors for £4.25 billion ($5.2 billion) in May due to sanctions.

In addition to Abramovich, Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov, Pyotr Aven and Mikhail Fridman are seeking to void the sanctions through the courts, which they say violates their rights.

Therefore, Usmanov opposes the EU’s claims that it supports the Russian military special operation in Ukraine and demands that it pay him $20,000 to cover legal costs. Aven and Friedman dispute the EU’s claim that they operate in sectors of the Russian economy that are “an important source of income for the Russian government.”