Cyprus police have opened a formal investigation into the financial and tax affairs of Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch and former Chelsea FC owner, following a Guardian investigation into his business dealings.
The inquiry was announced by a senior police official during a parliamentary committee hearing in Cyprus. The investigation focuses on events between 2003 and 2006 and is expected to last several months, according to the official statement.
The police action follows a Guardian report, produced with media partners, that alleged aides of Abramovich appeared to have falsified paperwork related to his business operations and tax records.
Abramovich owned Chelsea from 2003 until 2022, when he put the club up for sale amid international pressure following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He has faced increased scrutiny of his business practices and financial affairs in recent years.
The specific allegations or details of the falsified paperwork were not detailed in the police announcement, though the Guardian's original reporting investigated the mapping of Abramovich's business interests. Cyprus hosts significant Russian business and financial activity, making it a jurisdiction of interest for regulatory authorities examining Russian oligarch assets and operations.
The investigation represents a formal law enforcement response to journalistic findings about potential financial misconduct and tax irregularities. Abramovich has not publicly commented on the Cyprus police inquiry.