UK authorities have yet to renew Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich’s visa after it expired last month, three people close to the billionaire have told the Financial Times, as geopolitical tensions rise between Moscow and the west.
The Kremlin-connected, London-based Mr Abramovich — who, with a net worth of £9.3bn, is Britain’s 13th-richest man, according to the Sunday Times — has returned to Russia after his investor visa ran out, according to two people close to him.
Mr Abramovich did not attend Saturday’s FA Cup final, which Chelsea, the team he owns, won 1-0.
A source close to Mr Abramovich said that his request for a new visa had not been denied, but said that UK authorities were taking longer than usual to renew it without offering any explanation.
The Home Office declined to comment. “We do not routinely comment on individual cases,” said security minister Ben Wallace.
Culled from Financial Times
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