(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
Portugal blocked the sale of a 10 million euro ($10.4 million)
luxury house over a 'strong conviction' it belonged to
sanctions-hit Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Foreign
Minister Joao Cravinho said on Saturday, Trend reports citing
Reuters .
The property registry of the mansion in the luxury Quinta do
Lago resort in the Algarve was frozen - meaning it cannot be sold,
rented or mortgaged - on March 25 at the request of the foreign
ministry.
'We have a strong conviction, which hasn't been fully confirmed,
the house belongs to Roman Abramovich,' Cravinho said on the
sidelines of a NATO meeting in Berlin. 'The challenge here is that
many of those sanctioned do not have their properties and assets in
their names.'
According to Publico newspaper, which initially reported the
story, the former Chelsea soccer club owner tried to sell the
property the Delaware-based Millhouse Views LLC, owned by Millhouse
LLC, which manages his assets.
However, a spokesperson for Abramovich told Reuters he did not
own 'any property in Portugal' and 'Millhouse Views LLC is not
connected' to him.
'In fact we have never heard of this company,' the spokesperson
added.
Portugal's largest bank, Caixa Geral de Depositos, noticed the
move to sell the property and alerted authorities, Publico said.
The bank declined to comment.
According to Publico, the property is in plot 17 of Quinta do
Lago's San Lorenzo North area. A Reuters witness said there was a
signboard outside the gated mansion saying it had been sold.
Abramovich has been sanctioned by the British government and the
European Union over his links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He has denied having such ties.
Tags:
- sanctions
- Portugal
- Roman Abramovich
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