Abramovich ally says UK sanctions imposed due to 'pressure' on minister

Evraz

17/01/2024 14:37

LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - A billionaire ally of Russian
businessman Roman Abramovich renewed his bid to overturn British
sanctions at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday, saying he was
targeted because of pressure put on then Foreign Secretary Liz
Truss by a Cabinet colleague.
    Oil tycoon Eugene Shvidler was sanctioned in March 2022 on
the grounds of his association with former Chelsea Football Club
owner Abramovich. His two private jets were also seized.
    Britain also cited Shvidler's position as a director of
London-listed Russian steel producer Evraz  EVRE.L  and role at
Russian oil company Sibneft, sold by Abramovich in 2005, as
evidence he obtained a financial benefit from Abramovich.
    But Shvidler, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes
magazine at $1.5 billion, argues that Britain was wrong to
impose sanctions just because of his relationship with
Abramovich, whom he described as a close friend.
    He lost his initial challenge to the sanctions in August and
is asking the Court of Appeal in London to rule that the
imposition of sanctions was unlawful.
    The case is the first substantive appellate test of British
sanctions imposed following Russia's Ukraine invasion. In
response, Britain has sanctioned more than 1,600 people and
frozen over 18 billion pounds ($22.8 billion) in assets.
    
    'PRESSURE' ON MINISTER
    Shvidler's lawyer David Anderson said in court filings that
recently-disclosed documents revealed that Grant Shapps,
Transport Secretary at that time, put "pressure" on Truss to
sanction Shvidler. Anderson said that this was done "at short
notice and on the basis of limited information".
    Government lawyers said the new documents were irrelevant to
the issue of whether the sanctions imposed were lawful.
    "There is nothing improper about inter-departmental
cooperation of this nature," James Eadie said in court filings.
    Shvidler's appeal is being heard alongside a case brought by
Russian businessman Sergei Naumenko, whose 58.5 metre superyacht
was detained in London in March 2022.
    Alexa Magee, a legal researcher at campaign group Spotlight
on Corruption, said a victory for Britain would "underscore the
government's wide remit" when imposing sanctions.

 (Reporting by Sam Tobin. Editing by Jane Merriman)
 ((Sam.Tobin@thomsonreuters.com;))