Israel’s official Holocaust Museum urges US to expel Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich from sanctions because he worries that he will harm donations.
Abramovich, who is one of Russia’s most famous oligarchs and was born into a Jewish family, made a “generous” eight-figure donation to Yad Vashem last week, a spokesman said.
Although the extent of his long-term contributions is unknown, Abramovich – who immigrated to Israel in 2018 – has given more than $ 500 million to Israeli and Jewish causes in recent years, Times of Israel reported.
As sanctions talks began in early February in anticipation of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of UkraineIn a letter to US Ambassador Tom Nights, Yab Vashem and other organizations called on Abramovich to be released from all financial penalties.
Abramovich, 55, is the second largest private donor to Yad Vashem Washington Post reported. He is best known for his ownership of Chelsea Football Club in London, but has announced plans to sell the football team after the war in Ukraine.
Yad Vashem, the largest Holocaust memorial center in Israel, considers Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich one of his most generous donors. The name hall of the museum in Jerusalem is pictured on April 6, 2021
On February 22, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center announced a long-term partnership with Abramovich to promote Holocaust research and education and combat anti-Semitism.
“We are deeply grateful to Roman Abramovich for this generous contribution, which will significantly strengthen Yad Vashem’s mission,” Yad Vashem President Dani Diane said in a statement. “We know that this strategic partnership will lead to further expansion and deepening of Yad Vashem’s activities in Israel and around the world.”
But when Russia’s war against Ukraine enters its seventh day, pressure on international governments to include Abramovich among wealthy Russians who will be subject to sanctions.
According to Forbes, Abramovich is worth $ 12 billion and owns the Kensington mansion for $ 200 in the United States, a penthouse in the United States for $ 29 million and more than $ 1.6 billion yachts, private jets, helicopters and supercars internationally.
Abramovich, who immigrated to Israel from Russia in 2018, costs about $ 12 billion in the United States and recently made an eight-figure donation to Yad Yashem
On Monday, Abramovich confirmed that his Chelsea football club is selling for £ 3 billion, or about $ 4 billion in the United States. He said the proceeds from the future sale would be donated to victims of the war in Ukraine.
Russia on Wednesday stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s major cities after officials in Mariupol said a “full-scale genocide” was under way. Vladimir Putin’s men launched a 15-hour artillery shelling, while Kharkiv was also heavily bombed in a grim sign of what might happen in the capital, Kyiv.
Mariupol, located in southern Ukraine on the Black Sea, is surrounded by Russian forces and hit by artillery in an apparent attempt to bomb the city to obedience, while Putin’s people resort to “medieval” tactics. Sergei Orlov, the deputy mayor, said entire areas had been leveled with such heavy shelling that medics could not enter to retrieve the dead.
“We are close to a humanitarian catastrophe,” he said. “Russian forces are a few kilometers away on all sides,” he added. “The Ukrainian army is brave and they will continue to defend the city, but Russia is not fighting with its army, they are just destroying areas … We are in a terrible situation.”
Ukraine’s interior minister said 352 civilians were killed and more than 1,600 wounded last Sunday, just four days after the invasion began.
DailyMail.com reported on Wednesday morning that the club was launched as Abramovich tried to distance himself from Putin and sanctions imposed on Russia by the West for the devastating and illegal invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement, Abramovich confirmed: “I would like to address the media speculation over the last few days regarding my ownership of Chelsea.
“As I said, I have always made decisions with the best interests of the club. In the current situation, I decided to sell the club, as I believe it is in the best interests of the club, fans, employees, as well as sponsors and partners of the club.
On Monday, Abramovich confirmed that his Chelsea football club is selling for £ 3 billion, or about $ 4 billion in the United States.
He said the proceeds from the future sale would be donated to victims of the war in Ukraine. Families from Uzbekistan stand in front of a temporary reception center in Korchova on March 2nd
Ukraine’s interior minister said 352 civilians were killed and more than 1,600 wounded last Sunday, just four days after the invasion began. Ukrainian military goes through debris after a Russian air strike in Kyiv on February 26
Abramovich said he would not want to be paid £ 1.5 billion ($ 2 billion) in loans he had lent to the club over 19 years of injecting money to make the team one of the most successful. in Europe. “The sale of the club will not be quick, but a proper procedure will follow. I will not ask for any loans to repay, “he said.
“It was never about business or money for me, but about pure passion for the game and the club. I also instructed my team to set up a charity where all net sales proceeds would be donated.
“The foundation will benefit all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical resources for the urgent and urgent needs of victims, as well as supporting long-term recovery work. “
The speed of waiting for Abramovich to leave Chelsea is astounding, as he was trying to come up with a plan last weekend to relinquish control in order to keep the club under his ownership.
Earlier, it was reported that the billionaire had already started a “fire sale” of his extensive portfolio in London as he tried to unload Chelsea and his property, with the MP claiming that the Russian billionaire is acting quickly to stop the freezing of his assets.
Chris Bryant, using parliamentary privilege to avoid legal action, said the tycoon was selling his home and apartment because he was “afraid of being sanctioned”, adding that he feared the government would soon run out of time.