The General Court of the European Union rejected on Wednesday, September 9, a new appeal by Roman Abramovich against the continuation of sanctions imposed on him following the invasion of Ukraine. The Russian businessman, who also holds Israeli and Portuguese nationalities, sought the annulment of the measures extending the freezing of his assets and his ban on entering or transiting through the European Union until March 2026. He also claimed compensation for the moral damage he alleged he had suffered. Both of these claims were dismissed in case T-358/25.
The judges ruled that the Council of the European Union had not improperly delegated its decision-making power to the working groups tasked with preparing the renewal of sanctions. They also deemed the European criteria "objective, sufficiently precise, and proportionate." According to the Court, the asset freeze and travel restrictions comply with EU law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, particularly because they are regularly reviewed and provide for the possibility of derogation. Roman Abramovich can still appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union within two months and ten days, but only on points of law.
A third appeal rejected since 2023
Roman Abramovich has been on the European Union's sanctions list since March 15, 2022. Brussels considers him a leading businessman operating in sectors that generate substantial revenue for the Russian state. The former governor of the Chukotka region had already challenged his inclusion and the successive renewals of the sanctions before the European Court of Justice. His previous appeals were rejected in December 2023 and then in September 2025, before this third unfavorable ruling in 2026.
The European Court of Justice emphasizes that Abramovich remains the majority shareholder of Evraz's parent company, one of Russia's leading steel and mining groups. According to the company's 2021 annual report cited by the Court, steel accounted for 66,3% of its revenue. The judges also note his stakes in Norilsk Nickel, a major producer of palladium and refined nickel. They consider that these activities fall within sectors that constitute a significant source of revenue for the Russian government and note that Abramovich has not demonstrated that it was impossible for him to sell his shares.
The former owner of Chelsea caught up in the war once again
Roman Abramovich remains inextricably linked to Chelsea, the English club he owned from 2003 to 2022. During his nineteen years at the helm, the Blues won 21 trophies, including five Premier League titles and two Champions League titles, in 2012 and 2021. The billionaire announced the club's sale just days after the start of the Russian invasion, before being sanctioned by the United Kingdom due to his alleged links with Vladimir Putin. Chelsea was finally sold in May 2022 for £2,5 billion to a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
The proceeds from this sale, however, remain frozen in a British bank account. Abramovich initially wanted the money to be used for all victims of the war, while London insists it be used exclusively for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The British government has taken further steps to secure the transfer of the £2,5 billion, but lawyers for the former Chelsea owner maintain that the funds still belong to him and promise to contest any attempt at confiscation. This British legal dispute, now separate from his European appeals, prolongs the financial and legal consequences of the sanctions imposed on the billionaire since 2022.
