Russian tycoon

Mikhail Fridman, owner of the Dia supermarket chain,

will challenge the sanctions imposed by Brussels in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"They are malicious and deliberate falsehoods, the product of historical fantasies and conspiracy theories devised by private individuals with their own agendas," the businessman said in a statement, to which Europa Press had access.

Fridman

is the majority shareholder of Dia,

a company in which he has more than 70% stake through the LetterOne fund.

He is also the founder of the Alfa Group, to which AlfaBank belongs, and of the largest Russian supermarket chain X5.

The letter is also signed by the firm Petr Aven, a shareholder of the fund.

The sanctions involve the freezing of his assets, among others.

Fridman currently lives in London.

Precisely two days ago the businessman, who was born in the Ukraine although he studied and developed a career in Russia, sent a letter to the employees of LetterOne in which

he spoke out against the war

, although without entering into political considerations.

Both Fridman and Aven say they

"have no financial or political relationship with President Putin

or the Kremlin" and therefore reject the sanctions imposed by Brussels.

In addition,

Fridman describes himself as "a long-term investor

, committed to European companies employing tens of thousands of people in the UK and Europe."

In the letter sent to his employees,

he stresses that he was born in Ukraine

and has spent part of his life "as a citizen of Russia, building and growing businesses."

"I do not make political statements. I am a businessman with responsibility to many thousands of employees in Russia and Ukraine.

I am convinced that war can never be the answer

," he said in his letter.

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Know more

  • Ukraine

  • Russia

  • United Kingdom

War in UkraineGeopolitical shock on the world board: Europe grows, Switzerland leaves neutrality and the Scandinavians approach NATO

HowWhat is the UN, which countries are members and what is its role

INVASION OF UKRAINE The Russian oligarch owner of DIA supermarkets distances himself from Putin: "War is not the answer"

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