May 20, 2018 - World

U.K. fails to renew Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich's visa

Roman Abramovich. Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Authorities in the U.K. have yet to renew billionaire Russian oligarch and Chelsea F.C. owner Roman Abramovich's visa after its expiration last month, the Financial Times reports. The visa snafu forced him to miss his team's FA Cup win this weekend.

Why it matters: British officials have pondered cracking down against Russian oligarchs after ex-spy Sergei Skripal was poisoned. Conservative MP Bob Seely told the FT: "Either there is an innocent explanation [for the delay in Mr Abramovich’s visa], or the government is becoming less sympathetic to Russian oligarchs in the UK. Either way, denying visas to oligarchs is potentially important.”

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