France arrests 12 property objects owned by Abramovich

Another assets of Roman Abramovich have been frozen and confiscated, reports The Guardian. On the British island of Jersey, a court has issued a freezing order for assets valued at more than $7 billion potentially linked to a Russian oligarch. They are either located in Jersey or owned by companies registered on the island. Jersey is a self-governing territory belonging to the British Crown. The island is popular with wealthy people from all over the world due to low taxes and the ability to keep their bank accounts private.

Britain's sanctions against Abramovich came into effect on March 10. However, none of Abramovich's British properties were seized, including a £120 million mansion in Kensington, next to the royal palace. In total, the Russian oligarch owns more than £250 million worth of real estate in the UK. These are 70 estates, buildings and plots of land.

At the same time, the French Ministry of Economy and Finance seized 33 properties owned by Russian millionaires, 12 of them belong to Abramovich. These are houses, superyachts and helicopters, the total cost of which is more than 25 billion euros.

Among the seized property is Abramovich's villa Château de la Croë, located between Nice and Cannes, in Cap d'Antibes. King Edward VIII of Great Britain and Winston Churchill visited the building built in 1927, and then it belonged to the Greek shipowners Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos. Abramovich purchased the villa in 2001, restored it and added a 15-meter rooftop pool, gym and cinema during the restoration. Realtors value this property at about $130 million. What other property of Abramovich was seized, the French authorities did not specify. However, it is known that among the 33 properties of Russian oligarchs there are also several large villas in Saint-Tropez and Cannes, alpine chalets in Meribel and other luxurious ski resorts.

The authorities of Antigua and Barbuda said they are ready to assist in the arrest of two superyachts owned by Abramovich and moored in local ports.