A Russian oligarch who lives on the edge of Hampstead Heath is demanding UK authorities give him an allowance to buy food as he currently has to “eat at home”
Mikhail Fridman, who is the founder of Russia ’s largest private bank Alfa-Bank, is claiming he is “practically under house arrest” as a result of the sanctions.
Mr Fridman, who reportedly lives alone in Athlone House and has a net wealth of £11.9 billion, was sanctioned by the UK government on March 15.
He was formerly the director of LetterOne, a company that owns shares in health food company Holland & Barrett, before he stood down from the position earlier this month.
Mr Fridman, who has lived in London for eight years, told Spanish news outlet El Pais that UK authorities should give him a “certain amount” to enable him to buy food and ride in a taxi. He acknowledged this would be a “very limited amount” in relation to the cost of living in London.
"I can’t even pay in a restaurant,” he said. "I have to eat at home and I am practically under house arrest.
"I’ve been in London for eight years, I’ve invested billions of dollars in Britain and other European countries and the answer to this is that they confiscate everything and throw me out.”
Mr Fridman said the people who have been sanctioned would have to return to Russia, where they would have “no choice but to be absolutely loyal”.
There, they would continue to work, and would start businesses and create jobs, he said.
Mr Fridman had previously expressed his views opposing Putin's invasion of Ukraine in an email to LetterOne Staff.
He wrote about how the war would “cost lives and damage two nations”.
He wrote: "I do not make political statements, I am a businessman with responsibilities to my many thousands of employees in Russia and Ukraine.
"I am convinced however that war can never be the answer.
"This crisis will cost lives and damage two nations who have been brothers for hundreds of years.
"While a solution seems frighteningly far off, I can only join those whose fervent desire is for the bloodshed to end.”
He said he was “sure” his partners would share his view.
The UK’s Foreign Secretary Liz Trus last week announced 65 further sanctions, including the one imposed on Alfa-Bank.
Earlier this month the UK hit individuals, businesses and banks with sanctions in response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Truss said: "These oligarchs, businesses and hired thugs are complicit in the murder of innocent civilians and it is right that they pay the price.
"Putin should be under no illusions – we are united with our allies and will keep tightening the screw on the Russian economy to help ensure he fails in Ukraine. There will be no let-up.
"All those sanctioned today will have their assets in the UK frozen which means no UK citizen or company can do business with them, and individuals subject to travel bans are also prohibited from travelling to or from the UK.
"Today’s sanctions will bring the total global asset value of the banks the UK has sanctioned since the invasion to £500billion and the net worth of the oligarchs and family members in excess of £150billion."
