UK government imposes sanctions on Chelsea director Eugene Tenenbaum

Tenenbaum

has previously portrayed himself as one of

's closest business associates, according to the government. As part of the punishment, his assets have been frozen.

Following

's invasion of Ukraine, the 58-year-old joins Abramovich, who was characterized by the UK government as a "pro-Kremlin oligarch." The government has also sanctioned another of Abramovich's associates, David Davidovich. Tenenbaum, who was born in Kyiv in 1964 but came to Canada when he was a child, worked for Abramovich at Sibneft, the oil business that he sold in 2006.

Since the Abramovich acquisition in 2003, he has been a member of

Chelsea

's board of directors. "Corporate papers suggest that Tenenbaum assumed control of Evrington Investments Limited, an Abramovich-linked investment business, on February 24, immediately following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine," according to a UK government statement. An asset freeze has been imposed on Tenenbaum, who is a director at Chelsea Football Club.

"David Davidovich, who took over Evrington Investments from Tenenbaum in March 2022, has been described by

Forbes

as 'Abramovich's much lower profile right hand man.' An asset freeze and a travel ban have been imposed on him." Following Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which resulted in sanctions being imposed on the tycoon by the British government and the European Union, Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale.

Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca, Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, a group led by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly, and another led by former

and British Airways chairman Martin Broughton have all submitted proposals.

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