Nowhere to hide for Putin's pals

FREEDOM FOR UKRAINE

- David Maddox

ROMAN Abramovich last night gave up control of Chelsea Football Club.

As international sanctions were strengthened against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Mr Abramovich said he was handing “stewardship and care” of the Premier League giant to its charity trust.

The owner of Chelsea since 2003 released a statement saying: “I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values.

“That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.”

The Russian oligarch has not faced any sanctions and has always denied any suggestion of his alleged closeness to Vladimir Putin and his regime. It came as Russia was on the verge of being excluded from the Swift system of international banking payments last night after Germany weakened its opposition.

International agreement is needed for the “ultimate economic sanction” which would prevent Russia from getting financial transactions for its oil and gas.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey yesterday said Britain was continuing to press for Russia to be banned from the system.

Hours later Germany changed its stance to say it was in favour of imposing “targeted and functional” restrictions on Russia from Swift. Its foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, and economy minister, Robert Habeck, said in a joint statement: “We are urgently working on how to limit the collateral damage of decoupling from Swift in such a way that it affects the right people.

“What we need is a targeted and functional restriction of Swift.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last night said he was “grateful” for this.