Latest news with #BillBrowder
Sky News
4 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
Roman Abramovich: From rags, to riches, to 'ripping off' Ukraine
👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 The government is threatening to take former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to court over the proceeds of the sale of the Premier League club. Three years after being sanctioned for the oligarch's links to the Russian president, £2.5bn remains frozen in a bank account. The funds are earmarked for Ukrainian aid, but where will they end up? In today's episode, Niall Paterson talks to financier and author Bill Browder and Sky's sports correspondent Rob Harris about how Abramovich went from orphan to oligarch and where sanctions leave him today. Lawyers for Abramovich did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Woman whose husband is detained in Dubai meets with Irish politicians
A woman whose husband has been detained in Dubai for 17 years met with Irish politicians on Thursday to garner support for his case. Ryan Cornelius, 71, was detained for 10 years in 2008 as part of a bank fraud case, with his detention extended by 20 years in 2018. A UN working group has found he is subject to arbitrary imprisonment. His wife Heather Cornelius, who is an Irish citizen, met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House in Dublin on Thursday to raise awareness of his case. Mrs Cornelius said her husband has said the Irish embassy in Dubai are 'way more proactive with prisoners than anybody else'. 'They really are fantastic. We would just like to try and get some more people backing us and supporting us,' she told PA ahead of the meetings. Mrs Cornelius, her brother-in-law Chris Pagett, and human rights campaigner Sir Bill Browder, were due to meet with Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney, and Independent senators Aubrey McCarthy and Gerard Craughwell. They are also expected to meet with an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mrs Cornelius said she has tried to campaign with the British government to push for her husband's release but has received 'very little back'. 'It's very much to try and increase our campaign. The years are running out. 'I'd like to get Ryan home, and I am an Irish citizen, and I feel that the more people that I can bring my story and perhaps get a little bit more help.' Mrs Cornelius' Irish mother met her father in Co Down and they married before moving to Zambia, where she was born. She then went to Coleraine High School and Jordanstown university in Northern Ireland, now known as Ulster University. She said that of the 40 years she and her husband have been married, he has spent 17 years in prison. 'That's the most devastating thing. It has been all the way along, but now it sits even heavier on both our shoulders that he's lost all that time with his family, and he'll never get that back. But we do hope that we'll get some time together, a few years (where) we could be happy.' She said that her youngest child was six-years-old when her husband was arrested, and is now 23. 'It's completely devastated our family.' She said her husband has high blood pressure, several skin conditions, has contracted TB while in jail and has had Covid-19 several times. 'There are no easy things about being in jail in the Middle East. 'We talk every day on the phone, and we hold on to that hope.' Chris Pagett, who is married to Heather's sister, said he has been part of efforts to push the British government to help secure Mr Cornelius's release. 'This has been a cross we've all had to bear. We always live with hope there'll be a breakthrough, but even if there is tomorrow, it's 17 years we'll never get back,' he said. Mr Pagett said that Ireland and the EU 'represents really one of our main hopes'. As a former British diplomat, Mr Pagett said the case highlights 'a chronic failure to protect your citizens abroad from injustice'. 'I think eventually a majority of British people will become more concerned about it,' he said. 'This will become a political issue, because at the moment, it's isolated cases here and there. 'Certainly, the issue is likely in the world that we are now living in to become much more of an issue.' Sir Bill Browder said the British government has 'basically been totally inactive' and that 'anything is better than nothing'. 'Ryan is a British citizen, but the British government has pretty much left him to hang out and dry. 'Given that there's a connection to Ireland, we thought that perhaps the Irish would care more about one of theirs than the British do about theirs. 'We're going to Brussels in a few weeks to meet people in the European Parliament – and particularly the Irish members of the European Parliament – and we're here in Dublin to meet with the Irish parliament, and we're trying to find any way to get him out. 'This man should not have been in prison at all, but to serve 17 years and to have his entire life ruined over this thing, it's just unfathomable.'
BreakingNews.ie
08-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Woman whose husband is detained in Dubai meets with TDs and Senators
A woman whose husband has been detained in Dubai for 17 years met with Irish politicians on Thursday to garner support for his case. Ryan Cornelius, 71, was detained for 10 years in 2008 as part of a bank fraud case, with his detention extended by 20 years in 2018. Advertisement A UN working group has found he is subject to arbitrary imprisonment. His wife, Heather Cornelius, who is an Irish citizen, met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House in Dublin on Thursday to raise awareness of his case. Mrs Cornelius said her husband has said the Irish embassy in Dubai are 'way more proactive with prisoners than anybody else'. 'They really are fantastic. We would just like to try and get some more people backing us and supporting us,' she told PA ahead of the meetings. Advertisement Mrs Cornelius, her brother-in-law Chris Pagett, and human rights campaigner Sir Bill Browder, were due to meet with Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney, and Independent senators Aubrey McCarthy and Gerard Craughwell. Sir William Browder (left) and the family of Ryan Cornelius, his Irish wife Heather and brother-in-law Chris Pagett arrive ahead of a meeting with politicians at Leinster House in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) They are also expected to meet with an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mrs Cornelius said she has tried to campaign with the British government to push for her husband's release but has received 'very little back'. 'It's very much to try and increase our campaign. The years are running out. Advertisement 'I'd like to get Ryan home, and I am an Irish citizen, and I feel that the more people that I can bring my story and perhaps get a little bit more help.' Mrs Cornelius' Irish mother met her father in Co Down and they married before moving to Zambia, where she was born. She then went to Coleraine High School and Jordanstown university in Northern Ireland, now known as Ulster University. She said that of the 40 years she and her husband have been married, he has spent 17 years in prison. Advertisement 'That's the most devastating thing. It has been all the way along, but now it sits even heavier on both our shoulders that he's lost all that time with his family, and he'll never get that back. But we do hope that we'll get some time together, a few years (where) we could be happy.' She said that her youngest child was six-years-old when her husband was arrested, and is now 23. 'It's completely devastated our family.' She said her husband has high blood pressure, several skin conditions, has contracted TB while in jail and has had Covid-19 several times. Advertisement 'There are no easy things about being in jail in the Middle East. 'We talk every day on the phone, and we hold on to that hope.' Heather Cornelius, the wife of Ryan Cornelius, speaking to a PA journalist as she arrives ahead of a meeting with politicians at Leinster House in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Chris Pagett, who is married to Heather's sister, said he has been part of efforts to push the British government to help secure Mr Cornelius's release. 'This has been a cross we've all had to bear. We always live with hope there'll be a breakthrough, but even if there is tomorrow, it's 17 years we'll never get back,' he said. Mr Pagett said that Ireland and the EU 'represents really one of our main hopes'. As a former British diplomat, Mr Pagett said the case highlights 'a chronic failure to protect your citizens abroad from injustice'. 'I think eventually a majority of British people will become more concerned about it,' he said. 'This will become a political issue, because at the moment, it's isolated cases here and there. 'Certainly, the issue is likely in the world that we are now living in to become much more of an issue.' Sir Bill Browder said the British government has 'basically been totally inactive' and that 'anything is better than nothing'. 'Ryan is a British citizen, but the British government has pretty much left him to hang out and dry. 'Given that there's a connection to Ireland, we thought that perhaps the Irish would care more about one of theirs than the British do about theirs. 'We're going to Brussels in a few weeks to meet people in the European Parliament – and particularly the Irish members of the European Parliament – and we're here in Dublin to meet with the Irish parliament, and we're trying to find any way to get him out. 'This man should not have been in prison at all, but to serve 17 years and to have his entire life ruined over this thing, it's just unfathomable.'
The Independent
25-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Downing Street ‘hopeful' after Russia and Ukraine agree to Black Sea truce
Downing Street has said it is 'hopeful of the progress' following the announcement Ukraine and Russia had agreed to pause hostilities in the Black Sea. But the Government was unclear whether it would follow American efforts to ease some sanctions on Russia as part of the deal agreed on Tuesday. In statements published on Tuesday, the White House announced both Kyiv and Moscow had agreed to 'ensure safe navigation' and 'eliminate the use of force' in the Black Sea. But the US also appeared to signal its intention to ease sanctions on Russian fertiliser and agricultural goods and improve Moscow's access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems. Immediately following news of the agreement, a Number 10 spokesman declined to say whether the UK would follow any easing of sanctions, saying: 'Our position at the moment is that we are obviously hopeful of the progress. 'We are following developments closely.' Western nations, including the UK, have imposed a series of sanctions on Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including increased tariffs on Russian fertiliser and agricultural products and prohibiting companies from providing insurance for shipments of certain Russian goods'. Sir Bill Browder, who has campaigned for sanctions against Russia, warned that the agreement was 'missing the point completely'. He told the PA news agency: 'Russia can continue to pound civilian targets like hospitals, schools and apartment buildings and I'm sure they will. 'And by getting this concession, it saves Russia's oil refineries which are one of the key engines of funding for their war. 'Furthermore, releasing Russia from sanctions is hardly an appropriate response to a country which has killed tens of thousands of innocent Ukrainians and done a trillion dollars of damage. 'There's absolutely nothing to celebrate here.' The Liberal Democrats also urged the UK and its 'constant allies' to 'hold firm', with foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller saying there was 'no basis for removing sanctions while Russia continues to occupy Ukraine and menace other countries'. He added: '(Donald) Trump has had the wool pulled over his eyes if he thinks this Black Sea deal is a fair swap for lifting Russian sanctions.' The announcement follows separate talks between US negotiators and their Ukrainian and Russian counterparts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aimed at securing at least a partial ceasefire. As well as agreeing to end fighting in the Black Sea, both sides also agreed to 'develop measures' for implementing a proposed ban on attacks on energy facilities. The US also agreed to help Ukraine achieve prisoner of war exchanges, the release of civilian detainees and the return of children forcibly moved to Russia. The White House added that the US would 'continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh'. Meanwhile, planning for a European-led peacekeeping force continues in the UK. Military chiefs from the 'coalition of the willing' are expected to hold further planning meetings at the UK's permanent joint headquarters in Northwood throughout the week in preparation for a deployment in support of any future ceasefire.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Downing Street ‘hopeful' after Russia and Ukraine agree to Black Sea truce
Downing Street has said it is 'hopeful of the progress' following the announcement Ukraine and Russia had agreed to pause hostilities in the Black Sea. But the Government was unclear whether it would follow American efforts to ease some sanctions on Russia as part of the deal agreed on Tuesday. In statements published on Tuesday, the White House announced both Kyiv and Moscow had agreed to 'ensure safe navigation' and 'eliminate the use of force' in the Black Sea. But the US also appeared to signal its intention to ease sanctions on Russian fertiliser and agricultural goods and improve Moscow's access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems. Immediately following news of the agreement, a Number 10 spokesman declined to say whether the UK would follow any easing of sanctions, saying: 'Our position at the moment is that we are obviously hopeful of the progress. 'We are following developments closely.' Western nations, including the UK, have imposed a series of sanctions on Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including increased tariffs on Russian fertiliser and agricultural products and prohibiting companies from providing insurance for shipments of certain Russian goods'. Sir Bill Browder, who has campaigned for sanctions against Russia, warned that the agreement was 'missing the point completely'. He told the PA news agency: 'Russia can continue to pound civilian targets like hospitals, schools and apartment buildings and I'm sure they will. 'And by getting this concession, it saves Russia's oil refineries which are one of the key engines of funding for their war. 'Furthermore, releasing Russia from sanctions is hardly an appropriate response to a country which has killed tens of thousands of innocent Ukrainians and done a trillion dollars of damage. 'There's absolutely nothing to celebrate here.' The announcement follows separate talks between US negotiators and their Ukrainian and Russian counterparts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aimed at securing at least a partial ceasefire. As well as agreeing to end fighting in the Black Sea, both sides also agreed to 'develop measures' for implementing a proposed ban on attacks on energy facilities. The US also agreed to help Ukraine achieve prisoner of war exchanges, the release of civilian detainees and the return of children forcibly moved to Russia. The White House added that the US would 'continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh'. Meanwhile, planning for a European-led peacekeeping force continues in the UK. Military chiefs from the 'coalition of the willing' are expected to hold further planning meetings at the UK's permanent joint headquarters in Northwood throughout the week in preparation for a deployment in support of any future ceasefire.
