Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich has to Prove the Origin of his Money to Obtain a British Visa

Independent - Roman Abramovich has apparently been caught up in a government crackdown on people applying for investor visas and the Chelsea Football Club owner is unable to enter Britain because his is yet to be renewed.

News of his situation emerged as the Kremlin hit out at Britain's "unfriendly" actions towards Russian businesses, with spokesman Dimitry Peskov telling reporters there was Russophobic hysteria in Britain and unfair competition.

"Investors in other countries will see what is happening in the United Kingdom," he said, adding: "I would suggest that as far as investor attractiveness is concerned, this is a step backwards for UK."

Downing Street confirmed it was taking a fresh look at tier 1 visas, which Mr Ambramovich is believed to hold. They allow anyone who invests more than £2m in the British economy to stay for 40 months.

The Russian oil magnate is understood to have a fortune of around $11.5bn according to Forbes magazine, making him Russia's 11th richest man. It is understood he acquired his wealth primarily through the oil industry, before buying Chelsea FC in 2003.

One of only a few oligarchs to have successfully transitioned from Boris Yeltsin's rule to Vladimir Putin's, Mr Abramovich is considered close to the current president.

There is clearly a personal bond and some have even talked about their relationship as being that of father and son.

Pragmatism is also undoubtedly at play. Unlike colleagues Boris Berezovsky, Vladimir Gusinsky and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Mr Abramovich has obviously kept out of politics.

He has also agreed, at Mr Putin's insistence, to become Governor of Chukotka, investing a great deal of his own money in the impoverished far eastern district.

While Mr...