Cyprus police investigate allegations regarding Roman Abramovich's assets

Cyprus police have initiated an ex officio inquiry into allegations that billions in assets belonging to Russian businessman Roman Abramovich were moved and concealed through Cypriot companies and professional advisers. This action follows an investigative report published on October 12, 2026, by BBC Panorama and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which suggested the use of backdated documents to evade taxes and bypass international scrutiny.

The matter was brought before the House Institutions Committee on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Police representative Andreas Anastasiades confirmed that authorities began gathering evidence independently, without formal intervention from other institutions. While the events described in the reports date back to 2003 and 2006, authorities clarified that the potential criminal offenses have not reached their statute of limitations. Deloitte Cyprus, cited in the reports, stated it acts in compliance with applicable laws.

The current phase involves the evaluation of evidence, a process estimated to take approximately six months before a decision is reached on whether to open a formal criminal investigation. Representatives from the Justice Ministry and supervisory bodies noted that while the regulatory environment has been significantly strengthened since the period of the alleged incidents, the investigation faces challenges due to the time elapsed. The Law Office of the Republic did not attend the parliamentary session.