Cyprus police launch probe into Roman Abramovich's past tax and financial dealings

Cyprus police have begun examining Roman Abramovich’s financial and tax matters covering 2003 to 2006, after a high-profile report alleged misconduct by his aides. The announcement came in a parliamentary committee on institutions and values, where Andreas Anastasiades, assistant director of the crime-combating department, said the inquiry may take about six months and will involve gathering evidence and liaising with relevant authorities.

The underlying report, based on the Cyprus Confidential leak, claimed Deloitte Cyprus staff back-dated documents to hide billions of pounds in assets and facilitate tax avoidance. Abramovich has denied wrongdoing, stating he relied on professional advice, and Deloitte maintains it complied with all laws but can no longer access the material due to the passage of time. The police investigation adds a law-enforcement dimension to the earlier journalistic findings.