Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich (born 24 October 1966) is a Russian business oligarch and politician. He was governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug from 2000 to 2008.

Abramovich acquired a stake in the Russian oil company Sibneft in 1995 and sold it to the Russian government in 2005. He bought Chelsea Football Club in 2003 and owned it until 2022, when he sold the club after the UK government sanctioned him following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Financial allegations

A BBC Panorama investigation reported that leaked records showed backdated documents were used to remove assets from the accounts of companies linked to Abramovich and to make it appear that another company did not own funds held in Cyprus. The investigation alleged that Deloitte Cyprus reviewed or advised on some of the accounting changes and that the arrangements enabled tax evasion. Abramovich’s lawyers denied that he evaded tax or concealed his fortune, and said there was no evidence he knew about, authorised or directed the falsification of documents. Deloitte Cyprus said it complies with applicable laws.