Manchester City owner investigated for links to Russia

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RT – The UK government should investigate whether Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour helped wealthy Russians move their assets to the United Arab Emirates under Western sanctions, lawyers said on behalf of an anonymous Ukrainian activist.

“Sheikh Mansour is a towering figure and as the owner of one of England’s most famous football clubs, should be subject to fair scrutiny by the UK government,” says the letter sent by James Wise, the UK foreign affairs secretary. , according to various sources.

Following the discovery of what the letter says is a “wealth of evidence” linking Sheikh Mansour to “a haven for wealthy Russians in the United Arab Emirates”, there is a basis for “the UK government to investigate”. The smart request for an update follows an initial inquiry from the same legal team in September last year. The Ukrainian activist behind the letter is reportedly on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

The letter urges UK lawmakers to decide whether Mansour should be considered a “designated person” subject to financial sanctions under the 2019 Russia regulations.

If a government investigation concludes that Mansoor is subject to sanctions, it will disqualify him from owning Manchester City under the English Premier League’s updated ownership rules unveiled in March. Mansoor will be subject to sanctions if it is determined that he participated in activities that threaten or undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

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“Many Russian oligarchs appear to have found a home for their wealth in the UAE, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi particularly attractive to these individuals,” the letter added.

In response, a spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “We will not tolerate efforts to help Russian oligarchs hide their assets in complex financial networks, and in April we introduced sanctions to combat its facilitators.”

The Guardian said on Friday that the FCDO was “aware” of Russian efforts to circumvent sanctions. The newspaper also notes that the government has stepped up its efforts to disrupt Russian efforts to obtain sanctioned materials used in weapons production in several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Armenia and Serbia.

Last week, the UK government said more than 1,800 were allowed under its rules. Around 1,600 of them arrived after Moscow launched a military operation in Ukraine last year – one of them former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who was later forced to sell the Premier League giants.

Sheikh Mansoor bought Manchester City in 2008. During his tenure as owner, the club won seven Premier League titles, six League Cups, three FA Cups and one UEFA Champions League. Mansoor has featured in just two matches since taking ownership of the club.