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| Roman Abramovich thought to be caught up in UK visa crackdown | Roman Abramovich thought to be caught up in UK visa crackdown |
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| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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.” | |
| 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 did not rule out a link between Abramovich’s failure to renew his visa and the crackdown on the visa category. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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 on the reports, 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 on the reports, calling it a personal matter. |
| No 10 also confirmed that additional checks were taking place at private airfields in the wake of the Salisbury attack in March. The uncertainly over Abramovich’s visa takes place against a backdrop of increased tension between the UK and Russia. | No 10 also confirmed that additional checks were taking place at private airfields in the wake of the Salisbury attack in March. The uncertainly over Abramovich’s visa takes place against a backdrop of increased tension between the UK and Russia. |
| A Labour MP on the foreign affairs select committee, Chris Bryant, 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”. | A Labour MP on the foreign affairs select committee, Chris Bryant, 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”. |
| He added that with the imminent passage through parliament of the sanctions bill, 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,” he said. | He added that with the imminent passage through parliament of the sanctions bill, 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,” he said. |
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