Russian oligarch hired UK opposition’s top legal adviser to fight his sanctions. Protesters want him fired

Protesters rallied outside the UK Conservative Party headquarters in London on Wednesday under the slogan “No business as usual with Putin's oligarchs,” demanding tougher action to ensure frozen Russian assets are transferred to support Ukraine.

The protest targeted a case that has become a flashpoint in British politics: Lord David Wolfson, the Conservative Party’s Shadow Attorney General in the House of Lords, is representing sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in court while also advising the party on legal policy, raising concerns that a senior opposition figure is helping a sanctioned oligarch delay or block funds meant to support Ukraine.

The 7 January protest was organised by the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, Campaign for Ukraine, and Vsesvit, alongside other British and Ukrainian civil society groups.

UK prime minister challenges opposition leader in Parliament

The issue quickly reached Westminster. During Prime Minister’s Questions the same day, Labour leader Keir Starmer challenged Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch over how a shadow cabinet member could advise on sanctions policy while representing a sanctioned oligarch in active legal proceedings.

Starmer also pressed Badenoch on delays in transferring proceeds from the Chelsea FC sale, money generated by Abramovich after he was sanctioned, arguing that legal delays weaken the UK’s claim that Russian elites will be made to pay for the war.

Badenoch defended Lord Wolfson, saying he had recused himself from advising on Ukraine and Russia-related matters and that this was standard legal practice. Her office said the Conservatives support transferring the Chelsea FC sale proceeds to Ukraine as soon as possible.

Organisers: 'Shameful' that oligarchs can manipulate UK courts while Ukraine is under attack

Organisers linked the dispute directly to the war in Ukraine. “Against the backdrop of daily Russian missile strikes, mass blackouts, and the destruction of infrastructure, it is outrageous that sanctioned oligarchs are being allowed to challenge frozen assets,” said Olena Ivashchenko, co-organiser of the London protest and leader of Campaign for Ukraine.

She said a senior British politician representing “someone from Putin’s circle” signalled “a return to business as usual with Russia” and risked normalising violations of international law.

Christopher Ford, protest organiser and secretary of the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, said: “What is happening around Abramovich in the UK is shameful. Ukrainians are living under constant attack, yet sanctioned oligarchs are allowed to manipulate the justice system and evade contributing to those suffering from the war.”

£5.3bn at stake in Jersey courts

The protest followed a joint statement published in The Times on 6 January by British and Ukrainian organisations calling for Lord Wolfson’s removal from the Shadow Cabinet and warning against similar conflicts of interest.

Abramovich is seeking to unfreeze more than £5.3bn held in Jersey, including £2.35bn from the 2022 sale of Chelsea FC. Campaigners say his legal team is attempting to block around £1.4bn from being transferred to charitable causes, including support for Ukraine.

In December 2025, the UK government said it would seek a court order to direct the funds to Ukraine, but organisers warn that legal delays and political pressure could derail the process.

Calls for emergency legislation

Joe Powell, Labour MP for Kensington, who attended the protest, said Lord Wolfson could not continue advising Conservative leaders while representing a sanctioned oligarch in court.

The joint statement calls on Kemi Badenoch to remove Lord Wolfson from the Shadow Cabinet and urges emergency legislation to prevent sanctioned individuals from using the UK legal system to delay asset transfers meant for Ukraine.