House Ukrainian refugees in mansions of sanctioned Russian oligarchs, says UK
- Michael Gove, housing secretary, said ‘you’re sanctioned, no right to use, profit from this home … and if we can use it to help others, let’s do that’
- If implemented means Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich’s 70 properties, plus homes of others, would be open to Ukrainian refugees
The UK government is looking at using the mansions of sanctioned Russian oligarchs to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, a minister has told the BBC.
So far, the UK has sanctioned 11 Russian oligarchs for their close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich.
“I want to explore an option which would allow us to use the homes and properties of sanctioned individuals … for humanitarian and other purposes,” Michael Gove, the UK’s housing secretary, told the BBC on Sunday. He added that the measures would last until the sanctions lapse.
Sanctioned Russian oligarchs can still live in their homes, they just cannot sell them, said BBC presenter Sophie Raeworth. But Gove said the government wants to go further than this.
“There’s quite a high legal bar to cross and we’re not talking about permanent confiscation,” he said.
“But we are saying: ‘You’re sanctioned, you’re supporting Putin, this home is here, you have no right to use or profit from it, and more than that, while you are not using or profiting from it, if we can use it in order to help others, let’s do that,’” Gove said.
He added that Russian oligarchs have to face the consequences if their wealth or influence is being deployed to support Putin.