Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s legal team has demanded that Germany’s Left party remove a 2021 article from its Ecological Platform, arguing the piece contains false information about his wealth and possessions. The article labeled Abramovich as “the largest polluter among billionaires,” citing alleged ownership of a 162.5-meter superyacht, a Gulfstream G650 jet, two helicopters, and a submarine.
A statement from Die Linke, the Left party, revealed it received a legal warning over the post, which Abramovich’s lawyers claimed misrepresented his assets. They emphasized he does not own the listed properties and threatened legal action if the content remained online. However, Die Linke refused to delete the article, asserting the information was corroborated by “a number of sources, including official state data.”
The party’s co-chair of its parliamentary group, Jan van Aken, stated, “If Mr. Abramovich truly wants to disclose his finances in a German court to prove something – fine. We are even interested to know what exactly he owns, so we know what could be seized for the reconstruction of Ukraine.”
The dispute occurs amid ongoing Western sanctions against Russia following the 2022 conflict with Ukraine, which have frozen over $300 billion in Russian reserves and targeted assets linked to individuals accused of profiting from the war. Moscow has criticized these measures as “outright theft.”
Forbes estimated Abramovich’s net worth at $14.5 billion in 2021, noting his dual Russian, Israeli, and Portuguese citizenship. Earlier this year, his representatives also filed a complaint against The Guardian over an article connecting him to Kremlin-related financial activities, though the issue was resolved with clarifications from the outlet.
Abramovich remains embroiled in legal battles over funds from his 2022 sale of Chelsea Football Club, with the UK government freezing £2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) from the deal and directing it toward Ukraine’s reconstruction. He sold the club to U.S. investors after being sanctioned by London, denying any ties to the Kremlin. Abramovich has claimed the funds should support victims on both sides, but their use remains contested.
