Abramovich is a ‘gangster’, exiled Russian businessman tells trial

AN EXILED Russian oligarch has told a British trial that Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich was a “gangster”.

Boris Berezovsky made the allegation at a Commercial Court trial in London as he was questioned about allegations that Abramovich “intimidated” him into selling shares in Russian firms.

A lawyer representing Abramovich said Berezovsky had “made up” a story about threats and was talking “nonsense”.

Berezovsky, 65, is suing Abramovich, 44, for billions of pounds and was giving evidence in the second week of the trial.

He says Abramovich “betrayed” him and “intimidated” him into selling shares in Russian oil company Sibneft for a “mere $1.3 billion” — €950 million — “a fraction of their true worth”.

Berezovsky alleges breach of trust and breach of contract and is claiming over £3bn (€3.4bn) in damages.

Abramovich denies the allegations, and denies Berezovsky is due damages.

He says Berezovsky was paid millions of pounds for his services as a “political godfather” but was not a business partner.

Berezovsky alleges that Abramovich “intimidated” him into selling shares in a number of companies after he left Russia in 2000, following a fall-out with then president Vladimir Putin.

He said yesterday that initially Abramovich was a “messenger” for Putin.

“Initially he [Abramovich] put Putin in front of him,” Berezovsky told the trial. “Saying, ‘this is Putin, this is not me, this is Putin’.

“[Later] he even didn’t put Putin at all as a name because he already was formed himself... as a gangster.”

Jonathan Sumption, counsel for Abramovich, accused Berezovsky of “making up” a story about being intimidated into selling shares.

“You made up this story about threats,” said Sumption. “You have simply been found out. Your story is nonsense.”

Berezovsky replied: “I completely disagree with your way of thinking and your conclusion.”

Earlier, Berezovsky told Sumption: “I change my recollection many times.”

Sumption replied: “What is actually happening is that you have put these dates as being dates [a meeting] occurred.

“Each time you identify a date someone points out that you were somewhere else, usually on the other side of the world, so you try another date.”