Britain imposed sanctions on Chelsea score club owner Roman Abramovich and Igor Sechin, the chief executive of Russian oil giant Rosneft, hitting them with asset freezing and travel bans because of their links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two-billionaires plus businessman Oleg Deripaska and four other Russian oligarchs are the most high profile figures to be added to the British sanctions list since Rusia’s invasion of Ukraine and follow criticism that Britain has been acting too slowly.
The action puts on ice Abramovich’s plan to sell the Premier League club, the current European champions, although the government said the team could still carry on playing.
“There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine,” said British Prime Minister Boris Jonson. “Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies.”
In total Britain said the seven figures added to the sanction list had a collective net with of 15 billion pounds. Thursday’s action means Abramovich is banned from carrying out transactions with British individuals and businesses, and cannot enter or stay in Britain. His spokeswoman declined immediate commen.
