You're reading: RFE/RL: Russian oligarch Abramovich becomes Israeli citizen

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, the owner of Britain’s Chelsea soccer team, has become an Israeli citizen, just a month after Britain delayed the renewal of his British visa in the midst of diplomatic tensions between London and Moscow.

Abramovich, who is Jewish, was able to exercise his right under Israel’s Law of Return to obtain Israeli citizenship. That law states that Jews from anywhere in the world can become Israeli citizens.

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