The Independent has been compelled to eat crow and apologize to the Russian tycoon and Chelsea FC proprietor Roman Abramovich, after publishing a narrative accusing the billionaire of holding illicit money for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Amid the uproar surrounding the jailing of Russian opposition determine Alexey Navalny, the Independent, like many western media shops, has sided with Navalny’s associates in demanding punitive sanctions on Moscow. Yet in its fervor to spice up the protest chief, the liberal newspaper has fallen foul of the legislation.
In an article printed final week, the Independent quoted an affiliate of Navalny as saying that Abramovich is a “bag holder” for Putin’s “illicit presidential wealth,” and must be sanctioned by international governments.
The paper about-turned on Friday and issued an apology to Abramovich. “The Independent accepts that Mr Abramovich is not a ‘bag carrier’ for President Putin and we did not mean to allege that he should be subjected to punitive sanction,” the apology learn.
“In view of these errors we have agreed to make a donation to a charity nominated by Mr Abramovich and to pay his legal costs,” the paper added.
The actual quantity of authorized charges that the Independent must cough up is unclear. To Abramovich, nevertheless, any authorized bills could be a drop within the ocean in comparison with the Russian businessman’s huge fortune. Best often known as the proprietor of Chelsea Football Club since 2003, Abramovich is value an estimated £10.15 billion ($14.05 billion), in line with a Sunday Times report final 12 months.
On prime of an in depth portfolio of actual property, the Chelsea tycoon – who made his fortune throughout the chaotic privatization of Russia’s oil and steel industries within the 1990s – additionally owns the world’s second-longest yacht, the 535ft (163m) Eclipse, which he purchased for half a billion {dollars} in 2010.
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