Cyprus police open investigation into Roman Abramovich's financial and tax affairs
Cypriot officers are examining events between 2003 and 2006 after a Guardian, BIJ and BBC investigation into the former Chelsea owner's offshore business empire.
At a glance
- Cyprus police have opened an investigation into Roman Abramovich's financial and tax affairs.
- Officers are examining events between 2003 and 2006 and expect the inquiry to last about six months.
- The case follows a Guardian, BIJ and BBC report based on the Cyprus Confidential leak of over 500,000 documents.
Police in Cyprus have opened an investigation into the financial and tax affairs of Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea FC, following a report by the Guardian and its media partners.
A senior official in the island's police told a committee hearing in the Cypriot parliament that officers were looking into events between 2003 and 2006, and that the investigation was likely to last several months.
The move follows an investigation by the Guardian, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the BBC into the management of the billionaire Russian oligarch's sprawling business empire.
That report found that aides of Abramovich – including staff at the Cypriot outpost of the global accountancy firm Deloitte – appeared to have falsified paperwork mapping his offshore businesses. Their actions, including the apparent backdating of key documents concerning billions of pounds in assets, appear to have helped businesses owned by Abramovich to dodge tax and disguise assets, the investigation found.
Police evidence gathering
The involvement of the Cypriot police emerged during a regular meeting of a parliamentary committee on "institutions, values and the commissioner for administration", according to CIReN, the Guardian's Cypriot reporting partner.
Andreas Anastasiades, assistant director of the crime combating department, said police had begun gathering evidence after the report and expected the investigation to last six months. He said the amount of time that had elapsed would make the investigation more difficult, and that police would also consult the relevant authorities to assess the available material.
The Guardian approached representatives of Abramovich and Deloitte Cyprus for comment.
Previous denials
The former Chelsea owner has previously denied any wrongdoing and said that he relied on the advice of professional experts. Deloitte Cyprus has previously said that it "acts in compliance with all applicable laws" and that it could no longer access the relevant material because of the time that had elapsed.
The Guardian's findings on Abramovich's finances were based on the Cyprus Confidential leak of more than 500,000 documents, first released to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and analysed by organisations including the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the BBC.
Source: The Guardian Business.
Questions and answers
- Why is Cyprus police investigating Roman Abramovich?
- Police opened the investigation after a Guardian, Bureau of Investigative Journalism and BBC report into the management of his business empire, which found aides appeared to have falsified paperwork mapping his offshore businesses.
- What period does the investigation cover?
- A senior Cypriot police official said officers were looking into events between 2003 and 2006, and expected the investigation to last around six months.
- What has Roman Abramovich said about the allegations?
- The former Chelsea owner has previously denied any wrongdoing and said he relied on the advice of professional experts. Deloitte Cyprus has said it acts in compliance with all applicable laws.
