UK Sanctions Regime Tested in Supreme Court as Abramovich Associate Loses Appeal. The UK sanctions regime has passed a significant legal challenge after the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Eugene Shvidler. Shvidler, a business associate of Roman Abramovich, had sought to overturn sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He argued that the sanctions caused severe personal hardship and unfair discrimination based on his Russian origins. However, four of five Supreme Court judges ruled against him on Tuesday. They emphasized that the UK sanctions regime needs to be harsh to have an impact.
Shvidler, who grew up in Moscow but is now a British citizen, challenged the decision last year. His legal team claimed he was not closely linked enough to Abramovich to justify such strict measures.
Despite those claims, the court sided with the government. Judges stated the sanctions must be “severe and open-ended” to be effective. They explained that targeting individuals like Shvidler helps achieve the broader goal of economic pressure.
According to the judgment, preventing Shvidler from enjoying his assets supports the cumulative effect of the UK sanctions regime. The court accepted evidence showing a rational connection between his designation and the policy objective.
Shvidler previously served as a director at Evraz, a steel and mining company partially owned by Abramovich. He also chaired Millhouse LLC, which managed assets for both men. These links helped justify the government’s decision, according to the Foreign Office.
Lord Leggatt dissented in a detailed 20-page opinion. He criticized the ruling as “Orwellian” and claimed the government failed to justify the asset freeze. He expressed concern over the drastic limits placed on Shvidler’s freedom.
Shvidler responded strongly to the decision. He compared the ruling to the authoritarian tactics of the USSR, which he fled decades ago.
In a related ruling, the court dismissed another appeal involving Dalston Projects Ltd. The company owns a luxury yacht detained in London. The yacht’s Russian owner, Sergei Naumenko, said he lost major income due to the seizure.
Together, these rulings affirm the UK’s hardline stance against Russian-linked individuals amid ongoing global tensions.
For more updates, follow London Pulse News.
