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The United Kingdom ratifies two businessmen close to Abramovich Abramovich transferred assets to men after invasion of Ukraine The United Kingdom imposes the greatest asset freeze on men
LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) – Britain imposed sanctions on two close associates of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on Thursday in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying the men had been subjected to the largest asset freeze ever imposed. the government. Chelsea manager Eugene Tenenbaum and another Abramovich business associate, David Davidovich, came under fire. Davidovich will also face a travel ban, meaning he will be denied entry or stay in Britain. Abramovich, a billionaire businessman, transferred two companies he controlled to Tenenbaum and Davidovich the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Reuters reported last month. read more Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register The government said it had ordered the freezing of $ 10 billion in assets linked to the two men, who were sanctioned for their close relationship with Abramovich, who was among many wealthy Russians added last month to sanctions on Britain. of the European Union. “We are tightening the noose on Putin’s (Russian President Vladimir Putin) war machine and targeting the circle of people closest to the Kremlin,” said British Foreign Secretary Liz Tras. “We will continue with the sanctions until Putin fails in Ukraine. Nothing and no one is off the table.” Abramovich has denied in the past that he has close ties to Putin. PROPERTY TRANSFERS On February 24, Tenenbaum, the Chelsea manager described on the club’s website as one of Abramovich’s “closest associates”, took full control of Ervington Investments Limited, which has invested in at least eight companies, including Russia’s top machine. Yandex search. Ervington has served as an investment vehicle for Abramovich for at least eight years. He was among the investors who put $ 600 million into Yandex in 2020 and put money into Via, a route-sharing app. Tenenbaum told Reuters last month that his company had bought Ervington Investments in compliance with all laws and regulations because it is a company he has worked with for many years. The company relocated to Davidovich last month. 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, a Russian oil company sold in 2006 by Abramovich. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not immediately contact Davidovich for comment. Tenenbaum told Reuters last month that he did not agree with the way Abramovich was described in public and hoped that the sanctions imposed on him would be re-evaluated. The British government said when it imposed sanctions on Abramovich that it had been a close ally of Putin for decades. Abramovich also transferred another company, Norma Investments, to Davidovich on the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Norma owned shares in renewable fuel and biotechnology companies, according to corporate statements. Britain was initially slower than the United States and the EU in imposing sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in February, but is gradually intensifying after weeks of fighting. The Royal Jersey Court issued a formal order to seize $ 7 billion worth of assets linked to Abramovich on Thursday. Abramovich had tried to sell Chelsea to the Premier League before he was sanctioned, but this process was removed from his hands by the British government after his finances were blacklisted. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Andrew MacAskill and Kylie MacLellan. Editing by James Davey, Paul Sandle and Mike Harrison Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
