LONDON, United Kingdom, Aug 18 – A British-American billionaire oil tycoon and close ally of Russian businessman Roman Abramovich lost a legal bid on Friday to overturn UK sanctions imposed on him over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Eugene Shvidler, who was born in the former Soviet Union but moved to the United States in 1989 and later became a dual UK‐US citizen, failed to convince the High Court to lift the March 2022 order.
The case is the first UK court challenge of the government’s use of its beefed-up sanctions regime, which has been used to target scores of Russian politicians and entrepreneurs, and those with links to the Kremlin, since last year’s invasion.
The US-based Shvidler, who owns two private jets and a yacht, was targeted for his board role at a mining firm with Russian interests as well as his ties to Abramovich.
A friend of the former Chelsea FC owner — who has also been sanctioned by the UK and the EU, though not the United States — since the mid-1980s, the pair had done business together for decades.
Shvidler most recently held a top role at a British Virgin Islands-based holding company controlled by Abramovich, according to the 28-page High Court ruling in the case.
Shvidler had asked the court to lift the global asset freezes, under human rights statutes, and also argued he was the victim of discrimination.
But judge Neil Garnham dismissed the case.
“It cannot properly be said that the (foreign secretary at the time, Liz Truss) has failed to strike a fair balance between the rights of Mr Shvidler and his family and the interests of the community,” he wrote.
On the alleged infringement of his human rights, Garnham noted the sanctions were “temporary and reversible” and do not “threaten his life or liberty”.
Meanwhile, he called Shvidler’s discrimination claims “hopeless”, concluding there was “no evidence” that “race, nationality or ethnicity” had led to his targeting.
The ruling revealed Shvidler’s arguments about the “significant effect” of the UK sanctions imposed on him.
“The claimant explains that his ability to conduct his businesses has been destroyed; he can no longer access financial institutions he has used for many years,” Garnham noted.
“His two private aircraft have been grounded, and he has been unable to pay the expenses necessary to ensure his private yacht is safe and seaworthy,” he added.
Shvidler also detailed how his daughter had been “excluded” from expensive British private school Marlborough College while his son had the same happen at Harrow, in the aftermath of the sanctions.
Both are now based in the United States with their father, according to the court ruling.
