Alisher Usmanov, who has sponsorship links to Everton FC,
has had his assets frozen as part of sanctions enforced by the European Union
(EU) in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Uzbek-born billionaire’s USM Holdings sponsors Everton’s
training ground, with an initial 5-year deal announced back in 2017.
It also has an option on naming rights for the Toffees’ new
stadium, a deal worth £30 million (about $40.2 million) to the club.
The EU said in a statement that its Council had “added 26
persons and one entity to the list of persons, entities and bodies subject to
restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the
territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”
And a regulation update in the Official Journal of the
European Union said Usmanov, a long-time business partner of Everton owner
Farhad Moshiri, was among the 26.
The statement added that restrictive measures included “an
asset freeze and a prohibition from making funds available to the listed
individuals and entities”.
Also, a travel ban is applicable to the listed persons and
prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territory.
The regulation update describes Usmanov as a “pro-Kremlin
oligarch with particularly close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
It added: “He has been referred to as one of Vladimir
Putin’s favourite oligarchs.
“He’s considered to be one of Russia’s
businessmen-officials, who were entrusted with servicing financial flows, but
their positions depend on the will of the president.”
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