Roman Abramovich sues HarperCollins over Chelsea acquisition claims

Roman Abramovich has launched legal action against the author and publisher of Putin’s People, claiming the book on the Kremlin’s inner circle contains “false and defamatory statements” about his acquisition of Chelsea Football Club.

The Russian-Israeli billionaire said on Monday he had filed a defamation suit in England against HarperCollins and Catherine Belton, a former Financial Times Moscow correspondent.

Belton’s book, published last year, includes claims from Sergei Pugachev, an investor turned dissident, that Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 on the personal orders of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Abramovich said in a statement: “Today’s action was not taken lightly. It has never been my ambition to gain a public profile and I have always been reluctant to provide commentary on any matters, including any false or misleading statements about me or Chelsea Football Club.

“However, it has become clear that the false allegations in this book are having a damaging effect, not only on my personal reputation, but also in respect of the activities of Chelsea Football Club.”

HarperCollins and Belton did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Abramovich has spent hundreds of millions of pounds on players at the English Premier League team, transforming it into one of the best sides in the country. Under his ownership, Chelsea has won 16 major trophies including Europe’s Champions League in 2012.

Chelsea said it would not provide any specific comment on the case, but said: “The club and its staff are proud of its many achievements under Mr Abramovich’s stewardship.”

Tensions between the UK and Russia have intensified since the nerve agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the English town of Salisbury in 2018.

People close to Abramovich, whose fortune is estimated at more than £10bn by the Sunday Times, have suggested a delay in processing his application for a UK visa was linked to those wider tensions.

He ultimately withdrew his application. He became an Israeli citizen in May 2018 and has not since attended Chelsea matches at its home ground at Stamford Bridge.