Source:REUTERS/Ed Sykes
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, lawyers for Abramovich have issued an ultimatum ahead of legal proceedings against the UK government. The reports state that Abramovich’s lawyers have warned the British government that the £2.35 billion proceeds from the sale of Chelsea belong entirely to Abramovich personally, and they are prepared to take action against any attempt at “confiscation”. Correspondence obtained by the media shows that Abramovich’s lawyers insist they remain fully committed to using the proceeds from the Chelsea sale for charitable purposes. However, in a letter sent this Monday, they expressed disappointment with the way the UK government has handled the matter. They stated that Abramovich still intends to honour the commitment he made before selling Chelsea – to donate the proceeds to all victims of the war in Ukraine. The donation proposal was put forward by Abramovich before sanctions were imposed, and he remains fully dedicated to ensuring the funds are used for charity. Any such donation would be made voluntarily by Abramovich.
The editor believes that facing criticism over the delayed release of the funds, the British Prime Minister issued an official license last December to allow the transfer of the funds. This marks the first time that Abramovich’s side has publicly disclosed their contacts with the UK government, while openly criticizing the dereliction of duty by government officials.