Roman Abramovich
Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is suing Israel’s Bank Mizrahi Tefahot over its refusal to transfer a $2.2 million donation he made to Israel’s non-profit ZAKA. ZAKA – Israel’s non-governmental rescue and recovery organization that operates after terrorist attacks like the one on October 7 – is also a party to the suit.
Bank Mizrahi Tefahot said that it refused to accept the transfer of the funds because the European Court of Justice rejected Roman Abramovich’s appeal of the freezing of his assets made as part of sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
ZAKA also performs a Jewish religious obligation – the collecting of all human remains from someone who was killed, including blood, for burial in accordance with Jewish Law. This was an especially difficult and gruesome task in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas massacre in which many people were mutilated.
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“Since October 7 ZAKA’s volunteers have been working non-stop on a noble national mission,” reads the lawsuit. “The dedicated volunteers left their homes, their jobs and their natural environment, in order to move around amid the horrific scenes along the Gaza border and throughout the southern region and perform the most difficult task of locating and collecting the bodies of the victims, many of whom are in a horrifying physical condition.”
The lawsuit also states that “The issue at hand, stemming from circumstances beyond our control, is the bank’s unreasonable refusal to allow an urgently needed donation to the ZAKA organization, both to prevent organizational collapse and to assist volunteers coping with the difficult mental aftermath of the war.”
Roman Abramovich is a controversial figure, often described as one of Russia’s most powerful oligarchs. He made his fortune in the chaotic years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, acquiring state-owned assets at low prices through a controversial privatization program. He has been accused of corruption and of having close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Roman Abramovich is also well known for his ownership of Chelsea F.C., which he purchased in 2003. He invested heavily in the club, which led to a period of great success on the pitch, including five Premier League titles, one Champions League title, and five FA Cups. However, he was forced to sell the club in 2022 after being sanctioned by the UK government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
