The United Kingdom froze $13 billion in assets of Abramovich's partners

The United Kingdom announced on Thursday the freezing of assets worth about $13 billion by two oligarchs long associated with Russian Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea FC.

The sanctions against Eugene Tenenbaum, head of Chelsea, and David Davidovich, of Canadian and Russian nationalities respectively, bring to 106 the total number of oligarchs, relatives and associates sanctioned by London since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

The British government assured that this asset freeze — the largest in the country's history — will cut off key revenue streams for Russian President Vladimir Putin's “war machine”.

“We aim at the circle of people closest to the Kremlin,” said Foreign Minister Liz Truss, quoted in a statement.

“We will continue with sanctions until Putin fails in Ukraine. Nothing or anyone is ruled out,” he added.

Also imposed on Davidovich, whom Forbes describes as “Abramovich's discreet right-hand man”, the ban on travel to the United Kingdom.

For his part, Tenenbaum is presented as one of the closest business partners of the owner of Chelsea, who immediately after the Russian invasion took control of an investment firm linked to Abramovich.

The British Crown dependent island of Jersey announced Wednesday to have frozen more than $7 billion in assets believed to be linked to Abramovich.

Last month, London already imposed sanctions on the tycoon for his close ties with Putin.

The billionaire was forced to put up for sale the London football club he bought in 2003.

Abramovich is also on the list of persons sanctioned by the European Union in March. {

On the other hand, the French authorities seized Roman Abramovich's impressive villa in the south of France that once belonged to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, as part of an offensive against Russian oligarchs in the midst of the invasion of Ukraine.

Château de la Croë is located in one of the most prestigious parts of the French Riviera, Cap d'Antibes, and local estate agents estimate it to be worth around $118 million.

Built in 1926, the elegant villa is complete with more than a dozen bedrooms, eight bathrooms and is set in 12 acres of lush forests and lush gardens just metres from the Mediterranean Sea.

Abramovich spent about $40 million on the restoration of the Château after he bought it in 2001, built a 15-meter pool on the roof and inserted a huge gym and home theater in the basement to create the ultimate billionaires' playground.

The seizure of the villa by the French authorities occurred as part of a huge operation in which more than $27 billion in cash, property and other assets belonging to Russian oligarchs were confiscated or frozen in recent weeks, confirmed today by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of France.

A source in the ministry said that the villa was among the 12 properties belonging to the former owner of Chelsea Football Club that were seized, most of which were purchased by specially created French companies.

“The assets seized include houses, superyachts and helicopters, and they total more than 25 billion euros,” the source said.

Freezing real estate assets means that they cannot be sold or used for rental income, the source explained.

“There are 33 properties that have been frozen, including a dozen belonging to Roman Abramovich. It's all part of the sanctions program being implemented against the Russian Federation in response to its invasion of Ukraine,” he added.

The figures also include the equivalent of about $25 billion in cash locked in the French accounts of the Central Bank of Russia.

Abramovich's extensive property on the Caribbean island of St Barts, an island partially ruled by France as an overseas territory, is also among the assets seized.

Property has also been purchased at the Meribel Alpine Ski Resort, as well as other world-famous Riviera resorts, such as Saint-Tropez and Cannes.

(With information from AFP)

Keep reading: