Russia’s Abramovich Brings UK-Linked Probe to European Rights Court
Lawyers representing the former Chelsea Football Club owner argue that the investigation — centered on allegations of corruption and money laundering — has been "unfair and abusive." The legal challenge comes as approximately £5.3 billion ($7.15 billion) of Abramovich's assets remain locked in Jersey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the English Channel that operates under its own distinct legal and financial framework.
The filing asserts that the inquiry violates Abramovich's right to a fair trial and his right to privacy as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. His legal team specifically takes aim at a public statement issued by Jersey authorities in 2022 disclosing the existence of the probe, despite no formal charges ever having been filed.
Representatives for Abramovich told The Times that the investigation has dragged on for years without "charges, transparency or credible evidence," leveling accusations that authorities have withheld material information and are acting on political rather than legal grounds. They expressed confidence that the court would ultimately rule in their client's favor.
The case has cast a long shadow over the fate of £2.4 billion generated by the 2022 sale of Chelsea FC — proceeds that Abramovich pledged for charitable distribution to victims of the war in Ukraine, but which have yet to reach any beneficiary. A company connected to Abramovich has previously raised the possibility that Jersey could classify those funds as proceeds of crime.
The dispute has also drawn in the UK government, which has reportedly weighed pursuing legal avenues to ensure the money is directed exclusively toward Ukraine. A deeper disagreement over the scope of the funds' use has further complicated resolution: according to media, British officials are pushing to ringfence the money specifically for Ukraine, while Abramovich is seeking broader discretion, having originally committed to supporting "all victims of the war."
The UK government is named as the respondent in the European Court of Human Rights proceedings, according to reports.
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