Abramovich Breaks Silence as BBC Investigation Raises Fresh Questions Over Billionaire’s Finances

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has denied tax evasion and the falsification of financial documents following an investigation by the BBC and its media partners into the management of companies linked to his business empire.

The Russian billionaire responded through his lawyers on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, insisting that there was no evidence he knew about, authorised or directed the alleged falsification or backdating of corporate documents. His legal team also maintained that he was not involved in the day to day running of the companies under investigation.

The allegations emerged from a joint investigation by BBC Panorama, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, The Guardian and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. The investigation examined leaked corporate records covering several decades and alleged that documents associated with companies linked to Abramovich had been altered to obscure financial transactions, ownership structures and potential tax liabilities.

According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, its analysis identified more than 1,000 corporate documents that had allegedly been backdated, in some cases by as much as five years. The report claimed the documents helped create misleading records for more than 100 companies and alleged that the arrangements enabled billions of dollars in assets to be concealed from authorities.

The investigation also examined the accounts of companies connected to Abramovich. One company reportedly had luxury assets worth approximately $672 million, including superyachts, private aircraft and mansions, missing from its reported accounts. The investigation further alleged that two other companies, valued at nearly $2 billion and more than $10 billion, had their wealth obscured from Cypriot authorities.

The reports raised questions about the role of Deloitte’s Cyprus branch and MeritServus, a corporate services firm that was previously connected to Deloitte. Investigators alleged that employees helped prepare or alter documents used in corporate reporting and financial arrangements. Deloitte’s Cyprus branch said it complied with applicable laws but declined to comment further on the specific allegations.

Abramovich’s lawyers rejected the suggestion that he knowingly participated in unlawful conduct. They said he relied on professional advisers to manage his business affairs and denied that he concealed his fortune or evaded tax. The allegations against him have not, by themselves, established criminal guilt.

The latest revelations add to the scrutiny surrounding Abramovich’s finances following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The United Kingdom sanctioned him over his links to the Kremlin, and the measures forced him to sell Chelsea Football Club, which he had owned since 2003.

Chelsea was sold in May 2022 to a consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly. The proceeds, approximately £2.5 billion, remain frozen in a British bank account amid disagreement over how the money should be distributed. The UK government wants the funds to support humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, while Abramovich has argued that the beneficiaries should include victims of the conflict more broadly.

The investigation has renewed debate over the responsibilities of financial advisers, auditors and offshore corporate structures in ensuring transparency and compliance with tax laws. It has also raised questions about how wealthy individuals can use complex international business arrangements to manage their assets.

For now, Abramovich continues to deny wrongdoing. The allegations and the documents cited by investigators remain matters of scrutiny, while any determination of criminal liability would depend on the relevant legal processes and evidence.