Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with Eugene Shvidler. Getty
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with Eugene Shvidler. Getty
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with Eugene Shvidler. Getty
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with Eugene Shvidler. Getty

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UK

Two private jets of sanctioned oligarch held indefinitely

The two planes are at Biggin Hill and Farnborough airfields, both south of London

Simon Rushton
Simon Rushton

March 26, 2022

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Two private jets belonging to a Russian oligarch hit with sanctions are being indefinitely detained, the UK Government has said.

The planes are owned by Eugene Shvidler, a friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who has been placed under sanctions by the UK and EU. The measures are aimed at helping to end the war in Ukraine.

Mr Shvidler was included in the UK’s expanded list, released on Thursday, of oligarchs hit with sanctions.

His two planes are at Biggin Hill and Farnborough airfields, both south of London.

“Since [President Vladimir] Putin began his illegal assault, I’ve held jets belonging to Eugene Shvidler under investigation for three weeks,” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Saturday.

“Now, I am using my powers to detain them indefinitely. Putin’s friends who made millions out of his regime will not enjoy luxuries while innocent people die.”

The two seized jets were a $45 million (£34m) Bombardier Global 6500 jet and a $13m Cessna Citation Latitude jet, The Times reported.

The oligarchs targetted have alleged links to Mr Putin or the Russian government.

It means their assets, businesses and playthings — from Chelsea Football Club to luxury yachts and homes — can be seized.

Two superyachts linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich were spotted on the Turkish coast on Tuesday, 'Eclipse' and 'My Solaris'. Mr Abramovich is among several wealthy Russians added to an EU blacklist as governments act to seize their yachts and other luxury assets. AP
Two superyachts linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich were spotted on the Turkish coast on Tuesday, 'Eclipse' and 'My Solaris'. Mr Abramovich is among several wealthy Russians added to an EU blacklist as governments act to seize their yachts and other luxury assets. AP
'My Solaris', a superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, is pictured in Bodrum, south-west Turkey. Reuters
'My Solaris', a superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, is pictured in Bodrum, south-west Turkey. Reuters
A 68-metre luxury yacht called 'Ragnar', owned by a former KGB officer Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, is pictured at the quay in Narvik, north Norway. AFP
A 68-metre luxury yacht called 'Ragnar', owned by a former KGB officer Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, is pictured at the quay in Narvik, north Norway. AFP
The 'Axioma' superyacht belonging to Russian oligarch Dmitrievich Pumpyansky at a port in Gibraltar. Reuters
The 'Axioma' superyacht belonging to Russian oligarch Dmitrievich Pumpyansky at a port in Gibraltar. Reuters
'Crescent', which is believed to belong to Russian oligarch Igor Sechin, is seen docked at Marina Port Tarraco in Tarragona, Spain. Reuters
'Crescent', which is believed to belong to Russian oligarch Igor Sechin, is seen docked at Marina Port Tarraco in Tarragona, Spain. Reuters
The yacht 'Tango', owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, at Palma de Mallorca Yacht Club on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Reuters
The yacht 'Tango', owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, at Palma de Mallorca Yacht Club on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Reuters
The 48m long, St Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged yacht 'Lady Anastasia', owned by Alexander Mijeev, moored at a dock in Mallorca. AFP
The 48m long, St Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged yacht 'Lady Anastasia', owned by Alexander Mijeev, moored at a dock in Mallorca. AFP
Superyacht 'Valerie', linked to chief of Russian state aerospace and defence conglomerate Rostec Sergei Chemezov, at Barcelona Port in Spain. Reuters
Superyacht 'Valerie', linked to chief of Russian state aerospace and defence conglomerate Rostec Sergei Chemezov, at Barcelona Port in Spain. Reuters
The 142.81m sail-assisted motor yacht 'Sailing Yacht A', owned by Russian tycoon Andrey Melnichenko, in front of Monaco harbour. Reuters
The 142.81m sail-assisted motor yacht 'Sailing Yacht A', owned by Russian tycoon Andrey Melnichenko, in front of Monaco harbour. Reuters
'Dilbar', a luxury yacht owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters
'Dilbar', a luxury yacht owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters
'La Datcha', owned by Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov, docked at the port in Ensenada, Mexico. Reuters
'La Datcha', owned by Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov, docked at the port in Ensenada, Mexico. Reuters
'Lady M', owned by Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov, docked at Imperia's harbour. AFP
'Lady M', owned by Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov, docked at Imperia's harbour. AFP
Superyatch 'Amore Vero,' which French authorities have said is linked to Rosneft's CEO Igor Sechin, is seen at La Ciotat Port near Marseille in France. Reuters
Superyatch 'Amore Vero,' which French authorities have said is linked to Rosneft's CEO Igor Sechin, is seen at La Ciotat Port near Marseille in France. Reuters
'Quantum Blue', Russian billionaire Sergei Galitsky's yacht, docked in the port of Monaco. AFP
'Quantum Blue', Russian billionaire Sergei Galitsky's yacht, docked in the port of Monaco. AFP
The world's largest expedition yacht, 'Luna', owned by Roman Abramovich, at the port of Sibenik in Croatia. Shutterstock
The world's largest expedition yacht, 'Luna', owned by Roman Abramovich, at the port of Sibenik in Croatia. Shutterstock
The luxury 68m superyacht 'Triple Seven,' owned by Alexander Abramov, on the River Thames in London. EPA
The luxury 68m superyacht 'Triple Seven,' owned by Alexander Abramov, on the River Thames in London. EPA

Superyachts worth hundreds of millions of dollars belonging to some of Russia's wealthiest people have been seized or detained.

Chelsea is up for sale and four bidders have been told they must come up with at least £1 billion to buy the Premier League club.

Mr Shvidler, a businessman with an estimated net worth of £1.2 billion ($1.58bn), has close business links to Chelsea FC owner Mr Abramovich, the UK Government said.

Also on the latest list of people placed under sanctions in Britain is the London-based daughter of Russian politician Sergey Lavrov.

Polina Kovaleva, the daughter of the Russian foreign minister, is a 26-year-old Imperial College London graduate, who reportedly owns a £4.4-million mansion in Kensington, west London, which she bought without a mortgage in 2016.

Others on the sanctions list include:

  • Russian diamond-mining company Alrosa
  • Alfa-Bank, the largest private bank in Russia
  • Oleg Tinkov, founder of Tinkoff Bank
  • Herman Gref, chief executive of Sberbank, the country’s largest bank
  • Oleg E Aksyutin, deputy chairman of the management board at Gazprom
  • Didier Casimiro, first vice president of Russian state oil company Rosneft
  • Zeljko Runje, another leading figure at Gazprom
  • Galina Danilchenko, the woman Moscow installed as "mayor" of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol after Russian troops abducted the elected mayor
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