Abramovich ‘wins Israeli citizenship and access to UK’

ROMAN Abramovich has been granted Israeli citizenship and will move to Tel Aviv – allowing him entry into Britain, it was reported yesterday.

The Russian owner of Chelsea football club had been facing difficulties renewing his visa for the UK.

Relations between Moscow and London have been strained since former Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal was poisoned in Salisbury in March.

Britain blamed the attack on Russia but the Kremlin denied any involvement.

As his father’s family were Jewish, Mr Abramovich (pictured below) is entitled to live in Israel – and an Israeli passport would restore his access to Britain, as citizens can enter the UK without a visa.

Local news sites in Israel last night reported that Mr Abramovich had flown into Tel Aviv yesterday and received documents confirming his status as an Israeli citizen.

Reports on the Ynet website also claimed that the oligarch had recently brought a property in the city.

The Times of Israel said that Israel’s interior ministry had confirmed the development. A spokesman for Abramovich declined to comment.

However, a spokesman for the Population Administration which oversees border control confirmed that Mr Abramovich was in Israel.

Israel grants citizenship to any Jew wishing to move there and a passport can be issued immediately.

Israeli passport holders can enter Britain without a visa for short stays although they would still require visas to work here.

Mr Abramovich has been a regular visitor to Israel and Ynet said he had bought a property that was formerly a hotel in an old Tel Aviv neighbourhood close to the Mediterranean.