Roman Abramovich charity hires top Keir Starmer advisor to help release Russian's seized billions

Callum Vurley
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:56:41 +0000

Roman Abramovich's newly established Foundation for the Victims of Conflict has lodged a formal application with the UK Charity Commission to receive the £2.35 billion frozen proceeds from Chelsea Football Club's sale.

The charitable body will be led by Mike Penrose, formerly a senior executive at UNICEF, alongside several distinguished trustees.

Among those appointed is Martin Griffiths, a veteran British diplomat who previously served as United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.

Caryl Stern, who once headed the Walton Family Foundation established by Walmart's founders, joins the board alongside Nimco Ali, a prominent campaigner against female genital mutilation.

Griffiths shares a notable professional connection with one of the Prime Minister's closest confidants.

In 2011, the diplomat co-founded Inter Mediate alongside Jonathan Powell, who served as Tony Blair's chief of staff and now advises Sir Keir Starmer on national security and foreign policy matters.

The organisation concentrates its efforts "on the most difficult, complex and dangerous conflicts where other organisations are unable to operate".

This link between a foundation trustee and Downing Street's inner circle adds an intriguing dimension to proceedings, particularly as the Government maintains its firm stance against permitting the Chelsea proceeds to benefit causes beyond Ukraine's borders.

The fundamental disagreement between Abramovich and Whitehall concerns the geographical scope of any charitable spending.

Ministers have consistently demanded that every penny from the Chelsea transaction must exclusively support humanitarian efforts within Ukraine, where civilians have endured more than four years of devastating conflict following Russia's invasion.

The foundation's stated purpose, however, encompasses a far broader remit: providing assistance to conflict victims "anywhere in the world".

Abramovich's legal representatives have alleged that the Government "appears to be treating this proposed donation as a form of punitive measure" against the Russian billionaire.

A Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated: "Our absolute priority remains ensuring the funds reach the most vulnerable in Ukraine who have endured over four years of relentless suffering."

The Charity Commission has confirmed receipt of the application and will scrutinise it against the legal framework governing charitable status.

A spokesperson stated: "Our role as regulator is to ensure that organisations entered onto the Register of Charities meet the legal definition of a charity and that trustees comply with their legal duties."

Sources indicate that discussions with Government officials are anticipated in the coming weeks as the regulatory review proceeds.

Complicating matters further is an ongoing investigation in Jersey, where the Royal Court seized more than $7 billion worth of Abramovich-linked assets in March 2022.

Even should the foundation secure approval, there remains no guarantee that ministers will release the frozen funds.