The court recommended the Israeli bank to unblock the transfer of Roman Abramovich

Tel Aviv District Court Judge Yardena Serussi recommended that the Israeli bank Mizrahi Tefahot unblock the transfer of Russian businessman Roman Abramovich for 8 million shekels (about 196 million rubles) to the search and rescue organization ZAKA, the Israeli newspaper reports Globes. Earlier, the Israeli bank, citing EU and UK sanctions against the businessman, refused to make the transfer.

The judge said she was inclined to approve the lawsuit filed by the businessman and the ZAKA organization. “Is it reasonable for a bank to accept European sanctions when they do not apply to Israel? Especially when it comes to donating to an organization that helps Israel in difficult times?” — the newspaper quotes the judge as saying.

Ms. Serussi noted that the bank did not execute the transfer from one Israeli account to another. The judge emphasized that despite the fact that the bank complies with the sanctions regime, in this case an exception can be made, since the money remains in Israel and will be sent “to a very worthy and important cause.”

Translation by Roman Abramovich for the search and rescue organization was blocked bank after refusal The EU court lifted sanctions against the businessman and “unfrozen” his assets. Sanctions against Roman Abramovich were introduced in February 2022 in connection with the outbreak of hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. According to the billionaire, who also has Portuguese citizenship, the sanctions violate his fundamental rights protected by the European Union.

Alexandra Goroshilova