Roman Abramovich in court sued

Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich is today due to give evidence in a High Court battle with exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky.

Mr Berezovsky, 65, is suing Mr Abramovich, 45, for billions of pounds during at a trial before Mrs Justice Gloster at the Commercial Court in London.

He says the Russian billionaire businessman "betrayed" him and "intimidated" him into selling shares in Russian oil company Sibneft for a "mere 1.3 billion" US dollars - £800 million - "a fraction of their true worth".

Mr Berezovsky alleges breach of trust and breach of contract and is claiming more than £3 billion in damages - more than five billion dollars.


Mr Abramovich denies the allegations and denies that Mr Berezovsky is entitled to damages. He says Mr Berezovsky was paid millions of pounds for his services as a "political godfather" but was not a business partner.

The court has heard that Mr Berezovsky "fled Russia, never to return" in late 2000, following a fall-out with then President Vladimir Putin - travelling initially to France then settling in England.

Mr Abramovich is scheduled to give evidence at the start of his defence case as the trial enters its fifth week. He is expected to be in the witness box for several days.

Mr Berezovsky spent several days giving evidence shortly after the trial started in early October.