£2bn claim over Abramovich 'threat'
01/04/2010
A bid to throw out a £2 billion claim against the owner of Chelsea Football Club has failed.
The claim was brought by Roman Abramovich's former business partner Boris Berezovsky, who claims Mr Abramovich used threats and intimidation to make him sell shares in a Russian oil firm.
The High Court has refused a plea to dismiss the claim, with judge Mr Justice Colman commenting: "I am satisfied that it is impossible to say that his claim has no real prospect of success.
"Whereas in certain respects it may appear to present very formidable difficulties, it is in no respect so weak that Boris Berezovsky should be prevented from bringing it to trial."
Mr Berezovsky says Mr Abramovich forced him to sell shares in Sibneft at a fraction of their value.
These threats included pressure from Mr Abramovich that if the shares were not sold, they would be expropriated by the Kremlin, according to the claim.
In 2005, Mr Abramovich sold Sibneft to state-run OAO Gazprom for £8.5 billion.
The two men are among the richest in the world - but Mr Berezovsky's estimated £500 million fortune is dwarfed by Mr Abramovich's £10.8 billion.
Mr Berezovsky fled to the UK in 2000 after falling out with the then Russian president Vladimir Putin.
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