Sir Keir Starmer has warned Roman Abramovich that “the clock is ticking” for him to donate £2.5bn from the sale of Chelsea to Ukraine.
The Prime Minister instructed MPs on Wednesday that ministers have issued a licence permitting the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea to be transferred to a brand new basis for humanitarian causes in Ukraine.
Talking within the Home of Commons, he mentioned: “My message to Abramovich is that this: the clock is ticking.
“Honour the commitment you made and pay up now, and if you don’t, we are prepared to go to court so every penny reaches those whose lives have been torn apart by Putin’s illegal war.”
Abramovich bought the membership in Might 2022 after he was sanctioned following Vladimir Putin’s invasion earlier that 12 months.
The oligarch had pledged to donate the proceeds from the sale to the folks of Ukraine, however he has to this point failed to achieve an settlement with the federal government on a manner ahead and the funds stay frozen.
Wednesday’s determination to grant a licence for the switch is an effort to drive Abramovich to fulfil his promise earlier than the federal government resorts to authorized motion.
The federal government beforehand raised the potential of authorized motion in June, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves and then-foreign secretary David Lammy mentioned they had been “frustrated” by the failure to achieve an settlement with Abramovich.
On Wednesday, Reeves mentioned it was “unacceptable” that the cash remained frozen in a UK financial institution and mentioned ministers had been “prepared to do what is necessary” to make sure the funds attain Ukraine.
The Treasury mentioned ministers would take into account any proposal from Abramovich to voluntarily switch the cash to Ukraine.
Underneath the brand new licence, the proceeds should go to humanitarian causes in Ukraine, whereas any future features may be spent extra broadly on victims of battle world wide.
‘Stand-off the reasoning behind delay’
Sky Sports activities Information’ chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:
“There has been a stand-off between the UK government and Abramovich because the government wants the money to go to Ukraine, whereas Abramovich wants the money to go to “all victims” of the war, which would see some of it potentially going to Russia.
“Abramovich was sanctioned on the time of the sale and the sale solely went forward as a result of he was issued with a particular license which allowed the sale, offering he may show he wouldn’t personally profit.
“The money still legally belongs to Abramovich, but he cannot access it.”
