Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club, is currently under investigation for alleged corruption and money laundering in relation to the origins of his wealth, as announced by authorities in Jersey. This information surfaced following a ruling from the federal court in Switzerland, which authorized the release of documents regarding various Swiss bank accounts at the request of the Jersey attorney general.
Jersey authorities are pursuing companies believed to be linked to Abramovich in Swiss courts amid their investigation of his substantial assets. Following the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Jersey froze over $7 billion in assets associated with Abramovich. The investigation aims to uncover the origins of his wealth, largely accumulated during the 1990s and 2000s during Russia’s capitalist expansion.
Abramovich has denied any wrongdoing through his legal representation, stating that claims of his criminal involvement are unsubstantiated. Appeals from the companies connected to Abramovich to prevent the release of banking documents were dismissed by Swiss judges, who concluded that Jersey provided sufficient evidence to warrant the disclosure.
The Swiss court documents detail two central issues in the Jersey investigation. One concerns allegations of money laundering linked to Abramovich’s sale of his oil and gas interest, Sibneft, to the Russian government for $13 billion in 2005. The other issue relates to potential breaches of sanctions after Abramovich was placed on Jersey’s sanctions list following Ukraine’s invasion.
With limited public disclosure about the case, it remains unclear what specific allegations Jersey authorities have regarding Abramovich’s financial transactions and whether they are of legal origin. The Jersey attorney general’s office has indicated that they cannot comment on ongoing investigations. While Abramovich’s representatives assert that he has not been charged with any crime, the legal proceedings continue to develop as investigations unfold.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/07/roman-abramovich-under-investigation-jersey-corruption-money-laundering-claims