Government refuses deadline for Abramovich's Chelsea payout to Ukraine

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 15:39 · Archive

The UK government has refused to set a deadline for transferring Roman Abramovich's £2.6 billion Chelsea sale proceeds to Ukrainian humanitarian causes.

The UK government has refused to commit to a deadline for releasing Roman Abramovich's £2.6 billion from his 2022 Chelsea sale to Ukrainian humanitarian causes. Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller questioned Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband about the funds during Foreign Office questions in Parliament.

Abramovich was sanctioned by Britain over his links to Vladimir Putin's regime and forced to sell Chelsea in May 2022. The proceeds have remained frozen in a UK bank account. In December, the government issued a 90-day licence permitting transfer of the funds into a foundation for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine, but no transfer has yet been made.

Miliband said ministers are "absolutely determined" to act but would not directly address the Chelsea sale question due to ongoing legal processes. He said the UK and its allies are working to hand over Russian assets frozen since the Ukraine war began. Miller pressed him to "stop dragging his feet" over the matter, but the Foreign Secretary did not set a new timeframe or confirm when court proceedings would begin.

How it is being reported

• UK government told to 'stop dragging its feet' over Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea sale fundsPutin ally Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the top flight London club in May 2022The Independent · 27 Oct, 15:22
• Labour refuses setting specific deadline for Roman Abramovich's £2.6bn Chelsea payout to Ukrainian humanitarian causesLabour has refused to set a specific deadline for Roman Abramovich's £2.6billion Chelsea payout to Ukrainian humanitarian causes. The Government has been pressed on the matter by the Liberal Democrats, questioning when a deadline will be provided. Ministers have declined to set a date for the Russians' legal team to transfer the funds. The money remains frozen in a British bank account after Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea in May 2022. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Parliamentary under-secretary of state Uma Kumaran previously confirmed that a 90-day licence period had expired with…GB News · 27 Oct, 14:43

In this story: Roman Abramovich · Ed Miliband · Calum Miller · Chelsea Football Club · Ukraine · UK · Russia

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