Abramovich: Chelsea changed my life

Roman Abramovich today told a British High Court judge that buying Chelsea in 2003 was a “turning point” and changed his life “significantly”.

He said, in a written witness statement, that he “now” had a “high media profile” but had “never aspired to be a public figure” and “had always been interested primarily in real business”.

Mr Abramovich, 45, is being sued for billions of pounds by Boris Berezovsky, 65, in a trial before Mrs Justice Gloster at the Commercial Court in London.

Mr Berezovsky says Mr Abramovich “betrayed” him and “intimidated” him into selling shares in Russian oil company Sibneft for a “mere $1.3bn - “a fraction of their true worth”.

He alleges breach of trust and breach of contract, and is claiming more than £3bn in damages.

Mr Abramovich denies the allegations and denies that Mr Berezovsky is entitled to damages. He says Mr Berezovsky was paid millions of pounds for his services as a “political godfather” but was not a business partner.

The court has heard that Mr Berezovsky “fled Russia, never to return” in late 2000, following a fall-out with then president Vladimir Putin – travelling initially to France, then settling in England.

Mr Abramovich was today giving evidence for a second day – and is expected to be in the witness box for the rest of the week. He spoke in Russian and his words were translated by an interpreter.

Laurence Rabinowitz QC, for Mr Berezovsky, today listed some of the properties Mr Abramovich had owned including: Fyning Hill, a 420-acre estate and house in West Sussex; Lowndes Square, a large London property near Knightsbridge and a “multi-million pound” French chateau “which once belonged to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor”.

He suggested that Mr Abramovich had an “extravagant lifestyle” now and asked when his life had changed.

“I think that when I bought Chelsea Football Club, that did impact my way of life significantly,” he said. “It was a turning point really.”

In his witness statement, Mr Abramovich outlined his business career in a three-page section – but made no mention of Chelsea.

He refers to his “acquisition” of the club in a section headed “political and charitable” activities.

The hearing continues.