Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has started a legal battle regarding the fate of the proceeds from the sale of the Chelsea football club and the frozen funds.
Qafqazinfo reports that the businessman intends to donate part of these funds to support wounded soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces.
The publication writes that Abramovich's lawyers, in a letter addressed to the UK government, stated that the billions of pounds obtained from the club's sale in 2022 belong to their clients and that he has the independent authority to dispose of these funds. The lawyers emphasized that attempts to confiscate the funds will be contested in court and that any donation can only be made on a voluntary basis.
It should be recalled that Roman Abramovich sold Chelsea for 4.25 billion pounds in May 2022 amid sanctions. Since then, no agreement has been reached between the London court and the billionaire regarding the funds frozen in British banks. While the British side demands that the money be spent on humanitarian aid for Ukraine, the businessman wants to personally participate in the distribution of the funds.