Eugene Shvidler, a prominent figure associated with Roman Abramovich, has been unsuccessful in his endeavor to overturn sanctions imposed on him in light of the Ukraine war.

Shvidler, a billionaire with deep ties to Abramovich, pursued a legal challenge in the High Court to reverse what he deemed "excessive and sweeping" sanctions. The judge, however, dismissed his attempt on Friday, stating, "I find that the Secretary of State has adequately balanced Mr. Shvidler's and his family's rights against the community's interests."

The court's decision acknowledged the impact of sanctions on Shvidler's life but noted that they did not pose a threat to his life or freedom. Shvidler's legal team argued that his family had faced considerable hardship due to the sanctions, resulting in their relocation to the United States, where he is not sanctioned.

Additionally, the businessman cited his inability to maintain his private yacht and the grounding of his two private jets due to the sanctions. Shvidler's lawyer, Michael O’Kane, highlighted his client's British nationality, absence from Russia for over 15 years, and criticism of Russia's actions in Ukraine. He emphasized that the sanctions had frozen Shvidler's global assets, causing extensive challenges for him and his family.

The court's decision, if upheld, could set a precedent for the difficulty in challenging sanctions imposed by the foreign secretary. Shvidler is recognized for his philanthropic contributions to Jewish causes and is notably linked to the funding of the Beit Shvidler Primary School.

The Foreign Office, responsible for defending the sanctions in court, expressed satisfaction with the court's judgment, seeing it as a reinforcement of the robustness of the UK's sanctions regime. Photo by Adrian Pingstone, Wikimedia commons.