The United Kingdom has said it is extending sanctions on Tenenbaum and David Davidovich, another close ally of Abramovich, because the oligarch had transferred billions of pounds in assets to the couple as Russia invaded Ukraine. The State Department said the sanctions would “freeze the couple’s assets, which are estimated at a total of 10 10 billion – the largest asset freeze in UK history”. The ministry said the freezing of assets would “prevent the repatriation of these assets to Russia and their use to fund Putin’s war machine.” “We are tightening the noose on Putin’s war machine and targeting the circle of people closest to the Kremlin,” said Liz Trass, the foreign minister. “We will continue with sanctions until Putin fails in Ukraine. “Nothing and no one is off the table.” The United Kingdom has said sanctions were coordinated with Jersey, which froze ,4 5.4 billion in Abramovich.’S assets yesterday. Abramovich was sanctioned by the United Kingdom on March 10 after ministers accused him of having “clear links” to the Putin regime and of being among a group of wealthy Russian businessmen who had “blood on their hands”. He has denied that he has close ties to Putin. However, the United Kingdom has not confiscated any of Abramovich στο’s properties in the United Kingdom, including a 120 120 million mansion in Kensington Palace Gardens just behind the Royal Palace. His family has amassed a UK’s property worth more than 250 250 million, numbering around 70 houses, buildings and plots of land. The United Kingdom is forcing him to sell Chelsea FC, which he bought in 2003 for around 140 140 million. Company records show that Tenenbaum took control of Evrington Investments Ltd, an investment company linked to Abramovich, on February 24, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich had previously been described as the “real owner” of Cyprus-based Ervington, according to testimonies in London and Amsterdam. The company has invested in at least eight companies, including Russia’s leading search engine, Yandex. Also on the first day of the invasion, Abramovich transferred control of another investment vehicle, Norma Investments, to Davidovich. The State Department said Davidovich, who has been described by Forbes magazine as “Abramovich’s far lower right hand”, “took over Evrington Investments from Tenenbaum in March 2022”. The men will be subject to property seizures as well as transport sanctions, which means that any ship or aircraft owned, chartered, controlled or operated by them could be detained if it enters Britain. Tenenbaum, 57, was born in Ukraine when he was part of the Soviet Union and served on the Chelsea board for 19 years. He was previously head of corporate finance at Sibneft, an oil company sold in 2006 by Abramovich. He has previously described sanctions against Abramovich as “unfair”. The Guardian approached Tenenbaum and Davidovich for comment.
