A legal battle is brewing as Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich challenges the claims made in a 2021 article that labeled him “the largest polluter among billionaires.” His legal team has formally demanded the German Left party remove the piece from their online platform, alleging it contains demonstrably false information.
The article specifically cited Abramovich’s alleged ownership of a vast collection of luxury assets – a 162.5-meter superyacht, a Gulfstream G650 jet, two helicopters, and even a personal submarine – as the basis for the environmental accusation. Abramovich’s lawyers vehemently deny he owns these items, threatening legal action if the party refuses to comply with their demand.
The Left party, however, remains defiant. They maintain the information was meticulously verified through multiple sources, including official government data. They’ve publicly challenged Abramovich to prove his claims in a German court, suggesting they would welcome a full disclosure of his assets.
This isn’t simply about reputation; it’s about potential seizure. A leading figure within the Left party openly stated they are eager to know the full extent of Abramovich’s wealth, specifically to identify assets that could be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The context is stark: billions of dollars in Russian assets remain frozen globally.
Following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, Western nations enacted sweeping sanctions, freezing over $300 billion in Russian reserves and seizing assets from individuals accused of benefiting from the situation. The idea of repurposing these funds to rebuild Ukraine has gained traction, though Moscow condemns it as theft.
In 2021, Forbes estimated Abramovich’s net worth at $14.5 billion. He holds citizenship in Russia, Israel, and Portugal, navigating a complex web of international finance and legal jurisdictions. This complexity is now at the heart of multiple disputes.
This isn’t the first time Abramovich has moved to defend his reputation. Earlier this year, his representatives filed a complaint against The Guardian over an article alleging links to financial activities connected to the Kremlin. That dispute was ultimately resolved with clarifications issued by the newspaper.
The spotlight remains intensely focused on the proceeds from Abramovich’s 2022 sale of Chelsea Football Club. The UK government froze approximately £2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) from the sale, earmarked for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Despite Abramovich’s claims of wanting the funds to aid victims on both sides of the conflict, the money remains locked in a legal stalemate.
Abramovich completed the sale to US investors shortly after being sanctioned by London, consistently denying any direct ties to the Kremlin. The fate of these frozen funds, and the veracity of the claims surrounding his assets, continue to be fiercely contested on the international stage.
