EU Court Upholds Sanctions Against Roman Abramovich

On September 9, 2026, Roman Abramovich suffered a legal defeat when the General Court of the European Union rejected his attempt to overturn sanctions imposed on him due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The court dismissed his action, confirming that the sanctions, which include an asset freeze and travel restrictions, remain justified.

Abramovich was first sanctioned by the EU in 2022, and his latest legal challenge disputed the grounds for his inclusion on the sanctions list. The court focused on Abramovich's economic position and connections to major Russian industrial interests, particularly his relationship with Russian metals and mining sectors.

The EU argued that Abramovich benefited from sectors generating significant revenue for the Russian state. This ruling follows a previous rejection of his challenge in December 2023, where the court found sufficient evidence to justify his inclusion on the sanctions list, particularly due to his major shareholding in Evraz, a Russian steel and mining group.