FILE PHOTO: A sign adorns the building where mining company Rio Tinto has their office in Perth, Western Australia, November 19, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray
March 10, 2022
By Michael Holden and Praveen Menon
(Reuters) – Britain froze the assets of Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea soccer club, on Thursday in an escalation of sanctions against associates of Vladimir Putin, while mining giant Rio Tinto joined the corporate exodus from Russia.
Abramovich, who is also a major shareholder of London-listed steelmaker Evraz, and six others including Igor Sechin, CEO of Russian energy giant Rosneft, became the highest-profile oligarchs sanctioned by Britain since Russian President Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.
The action effectively puts Chelsea under UK government control, halting any disposal, and stopping new ticket or merchandise sales.
Shares in Evraz, in which…
