Swiss court allows disclosure of reasons for the refusal of Abramovich's residence permit
The Swiss Supreme Court lifted restrictions on the disclosure of for the reasons why Russian businessman Roman Abramovich failed to obtain a residency permit in the country.
The court rejected Abramovich's arguments that the disclosure of such information could damage his reputation.
In September, the Swiss authorities refused to allow Abramovich to obtain a residence permit fearing that his stay in the country could pose a "threat to public safety" and cause "reputational damage". According to the journalists of the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, after the oligarch’s petition in November 2017, the country's immigration services appealed to the Swiss federal police to investigate the department’s position on granting a residence permit to Abramovich.
The police, in response to the request from the immigration service, indicated that the businessman was “suspected of money laundering and presumed contacts with criminal organizations”, and that his Swiss assets may have “partially illegal origin”.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Switzerland confirmed this information, citing fears that Abramovich was "suspected of money laundering" and, presumably, could have contacts with criminal organizations.
The published text of the decision states that granting a residence permit to Abramovich could pose a "threat to public safety" and cause "reputational damage for Switzerland."
Abramovich applied for the Switzerland residence permit in 2016, but a year later he recalled it. In the spring of 2018, the businessman encountered issues with his British investment visa. The British authorities demanded to explain the origin of his fortune before extending his visa. Later it became known that Abramovich withdrew his British visa application and instead received Israeli citizenship.