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28th Mar 2022

Roman Abramovich ‘suffered suspected poisoning’ following Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Callum Boyle

Abramovich has reportedly been suffering from symptoms.

Roman Abramovich has reportedly been suffering from symptoms of suspected poisoning, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Where was Abramovich allegedly poisoned?

Reports suggest that the Russian oligarch and several peace negotiators involved in talks between Russia and Ukraine on 3 and 4 March have suffered from symptoms of suspected poisoning following a meeting in Kyiv last month.

Abramovich, whose role in the peace talks was reportedly approved by Vladimir Putin, was the subject of sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in further scrutiny towards his links to Putin.

He is understood to have suffered a suspected poisoning, the WSJ has said, while Ukrainian peace negotiators are also believed to be suffering symptoms.

What symptoms has he been reportedly suffering from?

One source who is aware of the situation told the Wall Street Journal that Abramovich, alongside at least two of the Ukrainian negotiators, developed symptoms such as “red eyes, constant and painful tearing and peeling skin on their faces and hands.

“They blamed the suspected attack on hardliners in Moscow, who they said wanted to sabotage talks to end the war.”

There were also additional reports that Abramovich “lost his sight for several hours” as part of the symptoms of the suspected poisoning.

Where was he treated?

The oligarch was treated in Turkey where his yacht has also been frequently spotted over the course of the last month.

Why was Abramovich sanctioned?

Abramovich is currently in the process of waiting to sell Chelsea following UK sanctions imposed on him as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Chelsea owner had all of his assets frozen by the UK government as a result of his close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin with a government report stating the following:

“Abramovich is associated with a person who is or has been involved in destabilising Ukraine and undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, namely Vladimir Putin, with whom Abramobvich has had a close relationship for decades.”

A shortlist has been devised with a preferred buyer set to be announced in the coming weeks to allow Chelsea to fall under new ownership.

Abramovich himself has also recently been linked with remaining in football and is reportedly interested in buying Turkish side Goztepe, who sit near the bottom of the Turkish Super Lig.

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