EU court rejects Roman Abramovich's challenge to sanctions

Key facts

• The EU's General Court rejected Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich's challenge to sanctions.
• The court upheld asset freezes and travel restrictions imposed on Abramovich.
• The ruling confirmed the Council of the EU acted within its powers in extending sanctions.
• The court found the sanctions criteria to be objective, precise, and proportionate.
• Abramovich's arguments regarding public profile and decision-making process were dismissed.
• Abramovich holds Russian, Israeli, and Portuguese nationality.

The EU's General Court has rejected Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich's challenge to sanctions imposed on him following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, upholding asset freezes and travel restrictions against the billionaire. The Council of the EU acted within its powers when it extended the measures against the billionaire former owner of Chelsea Football Club in 2022 through September 2025 and March 2026, judges ruled.

Abramovich, who holds Russian, Israeli and Portuguese nationality, is the majority shareholder in Evraz, one of Russia’s largest steel and mining groups, and also owns shares in Norilsk Nickel. The EU Court stated that the bloc's sanctions criteria were objective, sufficiently precise, and proportionate, targeting prominent businesspeople active in sectors providing significant revenue to the Russian government. It dismissed Abramovich’s claim that the EU was targeting him due to his public profile, asserting that sanctions were imposed because of his capital holding.

Judges also rejected Abramovich’s argument that the measures were effectively decided by Council working groups rather than by EU governments directly, concluding that the Council took the final decision. The Court found the restrictions to be compliant with EU law and the bloc’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, and proportionate to the objective of supporting a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.

Abramovich may appeal to the Court of Justice of the EU within two months and 10 days from notification of the judgment. He is also subject to sanctions in the U.K., where the government has sought to claim the proceeds of his sale of Chelsea Football Club, which have been frozen since 2022.