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Abramovich thought to be caught up in UK visa crackdown Abramovich thought to be caught up in UK visa crackdown
(35 minutes later)
The Chelsea football club owner, Roman Abramovich, appears to have been caught up in a government crackdown on wealthy investors coming to the UK after the Salisbury poisoning, further increasing tensions between Britain and Russia. The owner of Chelsea football club, Roman Abramovich, appears to have been caught up in a government crackdown on wealthy investors coming to the UK after the Salisbury poisoning, further increasing tensions between Britain and Russia.
Downing Street confirmed it was taking a fresh look at tier 1 visas, the type the Russian oligarch is understood to hold, which allow anyone who invests more than £2m in the British economy to stay for 40 months. Downing Street confirmed it was taking a fresh look at tier one visas, the type the Russian oligarch is understood to hold, which allow anyone who invests more than £2m in the British economy to stay for 40 months.
Responding to reports of the delay to Abramovich’s visa, Moscow claimed Russian businesses often encountered “unfair and unfriendly” actions when applying to come to the UK.Responding to reports of the delay to Abramovich’s visa, Moscow claimed Russian businesses often encountered “unfair and unfriendly” actions when applying to come to the UK.
A Kremlin spokesman said: “I don’t have this information. There were reports about this. I’ve already said: our business is encountering manifestations of unfair and unfriendly treatment in the UK.”A Kremlin spokesman said: “I don’t have this information. There were reports about this. I’ve already said: our business is encountering manifestations of unfair and unfriendly treatment in the UK.”
Abramovich, who was last seen publicly at a court hearing in Switzerland on Friday, missed Chelsea’s FA Cup final victory on Saturday over Manchester United at Wembley. The Saratov-born businessman has owned the club since 2003.Abramovich, who was last seen publicly at a court hearing in Switzerland on Friday, missed Chelsea’s FA Cup final victory on Saturday over Manchester United at Wembley. The Saratov-born businessman has owned the club since 2003.
No 10 confirmed the government was tightening the rules on Russian investors who wanted to stay in the UK. Last month, Amber Rudd, the then home secretary, announced a review of investment visas.No 10 confirmed the government was tightening the rules on Russian investors who wanted to stay in the UK. Last month, Amber Rudd, the then home secretary, announced a review of investment visas.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said he would not discuss individual cases, but did not rule out a link between Abramovich’s failure to renew his visa and the crackdown on the visa category. The prime minister’s official spokesman said he would not discuss individual cases, but that as a result of earlier changes, applications for tier one visas, which are thought to be held by around 700 wealthy Russians, had fallen by 84%.
Whitehall sources later suggested there could be a link between the billionaire’s application and the government’s decision to take another look at the scheme as a whole. Between 700 and 1,000 wealthy foreign investors are believed to hold tier 1 visas.
Abramovich’s visa is thought to have expired in April when he was out of the country and he has not tried to enter Britain since. His new application would have to be made from abroad, probably Russia, which means he will be subject to slightly more rigorous criteria than if he applied from within the UK. “We are currently taking another look at how the route operates and are undertaking further checks on investors who came to the UK through this route before the reforms were introduced,” he said.
No 10 also confirmed additional checks were taking place at private airfields after the Salisbury attack in March
Abramovich’s visa is thought to have expired in April while he was out of the country, and he has not tried to enter Britain since. His new application would have to be made from abroad, probably Russia, which means he will be subject to slightly more rigorous criteria than if he applied from within the UK.
Someone who knows Abramovich told the Guardian on Sunday that he had not been denied a visa but it was taking longer than usual to renew, and it was unclear why. A representative for Abramovich declined to comment, calling it a personal matter.Someone who knows Abramovich told the Guardian on Sunday that he had not been denied a visa but it was taking longer than usual to renew, and it was unclear why. A representative for Abramovich declined to comment, calling it a personal matter.
Russian officials on Monday also complained that the UK was wielding the issuance or denial of visas as a weapon in the growing political standoff between Moscow and London.Russian officials on Monday also complained that the UK was wielding the issuance or denial of visas as a weapon in the growing political standoff between Moscow and London.
Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, told the Guardian in response to a question on Abramovich: “It’s obvious that for the British government both visas and the regulation of the media sphere are instruments of politics.”Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, told the Guardian in response to a question on Abramovich: “It’s obvious that for the British government both visas and the regulation of the media sphere are instruments of politics.”
It is not known where the billionaire is currently. He was last seen in public at a hearing at the district court of Sarine in Fribourg, Switzerland on Friday. A representative for Abramovich told the Guardian that he would not comment on his location. It is not known where the billionaire is currently. He was last seen in public at a hearing at the district court of Sarine in Fribourg, Switzerland, on Friday. A representative for Abramovich told the Guardian that he would not comment on his location.
Publicly available tracking data showed that a Gulfstream jet believed to be used by Abramovich flew from southern France, where the billionaire owns an estate on the Cap d’Antibes peninsula, to Switzerland on Thursday ahead of the court hearing.Publicly available tracking data showed that a Gulfstream jet believed to be used by Abramovich flew from southern France, where the billionaire owns an estate on the Cap d’Antibes peninsula, to Switzerland on Thursday ahead of the court hearing.
The same plane then returned to southern France on Friday. It has not left since, according to that public data. Public tracking data also shows that Abramovich’s luxury yacht, Eclipse, is currently moored off Antibes.The same plane then returned to southern France on Friday. It has not left since, according to that public data. Public tracking data also shows that Abramovich’s luxury yacht, Eclipse, is currently moored off Antibes.
His Boeing 767 last flew from Moscow to Nice on 8 May, according to public data from the website FlightRadar24.His Boeing 767 last flew from Moscow to Nice on 8 May, according to public data from the website FlightRadar24.
No 10 also confirmed additional checks were taking place at private airfields after the Salisbury attack in March.
Chris Bryant, a Labour MP on the foreign affairs select committee, said he regarded the delay in granting Abramovich a visa as “a sign that the card of Putin and his allies is finally being marked”.Chris Bryant, a Labour MP on the foreign affairs select committee, said he regarded the delay in granting Abramovich a visa as “a sign that the card of Putin and his allies is finally being marked”.
With the imminent passage through parliament of the sanctions bill, he said it would be possible to put those close to Putin on an open list either for sanctions or visa refusal. “It is best this is done as openly and transparently as possible, with carrots and sticks for good behaviour,” Bryant said.With the imminent passage through parliament of the sanctions bill, he said it would be possible to put those close to Putin on an open list either for sanctions or visa refusal. “It is best this is done as openly and transparently as possible, with carrots and sticks for good behaviour,” Bryant said.
Roman AbramovichRoman Abramovich
RussiaRussia
Sergei SkripalSergei Skripal
Immigration and asylumImmigration and asylum
ChelseaChelsea
EuropeEurope
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