MOSCOW — Chelsea soccer club’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich has received Israeli citizenship and is now living there, Israel’s ambassador to Russia Gary Koren confirms Friday.
“He has completed the process as far as I know and has moved and is living in Israel and has received an Israeli passport,” Koren says in a Russian-language interview with the Echo of Moscow radio station.
Previously Israeli media reported that the Jewish billionaire had flown into Israel and received a national identity card.
Asked if the 51-year-old Abramovich is now Israel’s richest man, Koren says: “Well probably, I don’t have such a list.”
The Israeli diplomat stresses that Abramovich will receive a warm welcome, adding that he hopes the Russian will “invest at least part of his riches in our economy.”
“Maybe he will support Israeli [soccer] because in fact it’s in a pitiful state,” Koren says, citing Chelsea’s success and adding wistfully: “If only we had a [soccer] team at such a level.”
— AFP
In this March 22, 2014 file photo, Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich applauds his players after they defeated Arsenal 6-0 in an English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge stadium in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
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