Reliance on private companies jeopardize sanctions
CHALLENGING SANCTIONS
Billionaire Eugene Shvidler has earned a place in the record books as the first person ever (!) to challenge U.K. sanctions in court. This isn’t admittedly as big a deal as it sounds, since Britain only gained the ability to sanction people unilaterally when it left the European Union, but still, I’m sure it’s a comfort to him to know that — win or lose — he’ll always have his small place in history.
Shvidler is represented by Peters & Peters, a London law firm, and I should be careful what I say here because the last time I had formal dealings with them (they threatened legal action against a film I made, which mentioned one of their clients), it was so stressful that I lost four kilos in a week. Still, like them or loathe them, I can’t deny that they’re good at their jobs: We never did get to screen the film, which is a shame because it was really interesting.
Shvidler was added to the sanctions list in March last year, with the official reason being that he had close relations with Roman Abramovich, who in turn was — according to the U.K. — “involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia.” Shvidler’s lawyers say the British government made “significant errors” in assessing their client’s relationship with Abramovich, and this is what will be examined by a judge.