Some of London’s wealthiest Russians could lose permission to stay in Britain following the Salisbury attack, it emerged today as questions flew about Roman Abramovich’s visa.
Government sources said reviews were being carried out on all tycoons staying in the UK on special visas issued to major investors.
The issue was spotlighted after it emerged that Chelsea owner Mr Abramovich missed Saturday’s FA Cup Final, which his team won 1-0 against Manchester United, because his visa has not so far been renewed.
He held a Tier 1 visa, which is available to non-EU nationals who want to invest £2 million or more in the UK. It expired while he was abroad. A renewal application is ongoing but apparently subject to delays.
Downing Street would not discuss individual cases but pointed out that former home secretary Amber Rudd had said after the Salisbury attack that extra checks were being carried out. “In 2014 and 2015 we took action to tighten up the Tier One 1 investor route, including new powers to refuse applications where there are reasonable grounds to believe funds have been obtained unlawfully,” said the spokesman. “As a result of these reforms applications were reduced by 84 per cent.
“We are currently taking another look at how the route operates and are undertaking further checks on investors who came to the UK through this route before the reforms were introduced.”
Neither ministers nor officials have explained why Mr Abramovich has not yet been issued a renewal to his visa. Simple red tape remains one possibility, while sources also pointed out that renewals always take longer when applicants are abroad.
Relations between Britain and Moscow nosedived after the nerve agent poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.
Russian money is so significant in London that many prestige lawyers, accountants and estate agents have special Russia desks to handle clients.
But ministers were today accused by MPs of risking national security by “turning a blind eye” to “dirty money”.
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The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said that despite the outcry over the Salisbury nerve agent attack, President Vladimir Putin and his allies were continuing to use the City as a base for their “corrupt assets”.
The committee said the Government needed to show “stronger political leadership”, with further sanctions against “Kremlin-connected individuals” and action to close loopholes in the existing regime.
