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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Sam Jones in Madrid and Beatriz Ramalho da Silva in Lisbon

Portugal to change law under which Roman Abramovich gained citizenship

Roman Abramovich
The Russian oligarch and Chelsea FC owner was granted Portuguese citizenship last year. Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters

The Portuguese government is to tighten the law granting nationality to the descendants of Jews who were expelled from the Iberian peninsula 500 years ago, as concerns grow over the controversial decision to award Roman Abramovich citizenship because of his apparent Sephardic Jewish heritage.

The Russian oligarch and Chelsea FC owner, who is now subject to UK and EU sanctions because of his ties to Vladimir Putin, was granted Portuguese citizenship last year under a 2015 law designed to make amends for the mass banishments at the end of the 15th century.

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