The British government has threatened to take legal action against Roman Abramovich to unlock the £2.5 billion proceeds from the sale of the Chelsea Football Club, currently frozen in a UK bank account. According to the BBC, London wants the entire sum to be allocated to humanitarian aid in Ukraine, while the former club owner insists that the funds be used for ‘all victims of the war in Ukraine’, including Russian citizens. In a joint statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated: ‘While the door to negotiation remains open, we are fully prepared to take the matter to court if necessary’. The ministers reiterated their desire to ‘ensure that people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible’. The government accuses Abramovich’s side of blocking a deal, causing ‘deep frustration’. Abramovich, sanctioned by the UK after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, obtained a special license to sell Chelsea on the condition that he would not personally benefit from the transaction. Although he cannot access the funds, they remain legally his property. The House of Lords Foreign Affairs Committee called it ‘incomprehensible’ that the sum has not been used for Ukraine, accusing both the government and Abramovich of leaving the impasse unresolved.
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