The Prime Minister has said Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich must “pay up now” to victims of the war in Ukraine or face court action.Mr Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club, pledged in 2022 that money from the sale of the club would go to benefit victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.The money has been frozen in a British bank account since the sale after he was sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Speaking in the Commons, Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had issued a licence “to transfer £2.5bn from the sale of Chelsea Football Club that’s been frozen since 2022.”Sir Keir said: “My message of Abramovich is clear: the clock is ticking. “Honour the commitment that you made and pay up now, and if you don’t we’re prepared to go to court and ensure that every penny reaches those whose lives have been torn apart by Putin’s illegal war.”The Treasury said that under the terms of the licence, the money must go to “humanitarian causes” in Ukraine and cannot benefit Mr Abramovich or any other sanctioned individual.
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Starmer tells Abramovich to ‘pay up now’ or face court
