Bad news for Roman Abramovich from the European Court of Justice

The General Court, which is part of the European Court of Justice, the highest court of the European Union (EU) based in Luxembourg, has rejected the lawsuit filed by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich against the sanctions imposed by the EU in March 2022.

In a statement issued by the court, it was reported that the EU General Court had rejected the case in question and that the sanctions against Abramovich would continue.

The statement, which noted that the sanctions did not "violate the fundamental rights" of Abramovich, also conveyed that Abramovich's "claim for compensation" was rejected because he could not "prove that these sanctions were unjustified."

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

The EU began imposing sanctions on Russian billionaire Abramovich on March 15, freezing his assets and imposing a travel ban.

In the EU Council's sanctions decision, it was stated that Abramovich was an oligarch with long-standing and close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that he maintained very good relations.

Abramovich, who holds Russian, Israeli, and Portuguese citizenship, was forced to sell the Chelsea football club he owned following the British government's sanctions decision.

Abramovich had filed a lawsuit at the EU General Court in Luxembourg against the EU Council's decision.