Labour MP has advised the government to seize the assets of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, claiming he is linked with corruption. Chris Bryant told MPs he had a leaked Home Office document which suggested the Chelsea Football Club owner should not be able to base himself in the UK.
UK Parliament wants Government to Seize Roman Abramovich Assets
Mr Bryant said it was written in 2019 and “little” had been done since then. A spokesperson for Mr Roman Abramovich however declined the claims made by Bryant. Replying to Mr Bryant, senior minister Mark Spencer said the government had taken “very strong action against Abramovich and they even placed a ban on him saying he can not enter left alone reside in the U.K again.
Quoting from the leaked Home Office document, Mr Bryant said: “‘As part of HMG’s [Her Majesty’s Government] Russia strategy aimed at targeting illicit finance and malign activity, Abramovich remains of interest to HMG due to his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices. An example of this is Abramovich admitting in court proceedings that he paid for political influence.
Therefore HMG is focused on ensuring individuals linked to illicit finance and malign activity are unable to base themselves in the UK and will use the relevant tools at its disposal, including immigration powers to prevent this.”
Mr Bryant also said that based on the information from the document, the Russian should no longer be able to own a football club in the U.K and so they should be looking at seizing some of his assets including his £152m home.
