A top European Union court has rejected Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich’s third attempt to overturn sanctions imposed on him over the war in Ukraine. The ruling was delivered on Wednesday by the EU’s General Court.

Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club, was added to the EU’s asset freeze and visa ban list in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He is known to have close ties to the Kremlin.

The court dismissed his argument that the EU was unfairly targeting him because of his public profile. Judges found that the sanctions were legally justified.

According to the court, Abramovich held stakes in major metals companies Evraz and Norilsk Nickel. Both firms were judged to provide a substantial source of revenue for the Russian government, forming the basis for his inclusion on the sanctions list.

This is the third time Abramovich has challenged the measures, with previous cases rejected in 2023 and 2025. He is among several Russian businessmen who have sought to have EU sanctions against them lifted.

Photo credit: Vanguard News