JAKARTA - The British government has threatened to sue former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to court over a 2.5 billion frozen fund from the sale of the football club he wants to give to the victims of the Russian war in Ukraine.
The British government sanctioned Abramovich in a crackdown on Russia's oligarchs following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompting Chelsea's hasty sales and freeze-out of sales.
The British government wants the funds to only be used in Ukraine in line with Europe's broader push for Moscow to bear the bill for deaths and damage sparked by the invasion.
While Abramovich wants more flexibility and wants the money to be given to all victims.
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In a rare joint statement, UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves and Foreign Minister David Lemmy said on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, local time that the government was ready to step up efforts to secure the money.
"The government is determined to distribute Chelsea's proceeds for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine, following Russia's massive illegal invasion."
"We are very frustrated because so far it is not possible to reach an agreement with Mr. Abramovich," they said.
They said the door to negotiations would remain open, but they are fully prepared to seek this through the courts if necessary.
A lawyer Abramovich in the UK did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Reuters reported in March 2025 that the UK Government was considering legal action on the matter.
Apart from that, under Abramovich, Chelsea enjoyed the most successful journey in history before the club was sold to a consortium led by US investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital in May 2022.
The proceeds from the sale were frozen in a British bank account. These results cannot be moved or used without permission from the Office of Implementation of Financial Sanctions, the agency in the finance ministry that enforces sanctions.
Meanwhile, an interview with Abramovich - the first in public since 2006 - will be published next week in a book by Nick Purewal, entitled Sanctioned.
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