// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Abramovich's close associate misled UK court in £1bn oil-fields case, documents suggest
Eugene Tenenbaum (left) with Roman Abramovich (right) at Chelsea FC, in 2014
One of Roman Abramovich's closest associates misled a UK court to help secure ownership of Siberian oil fields, leaked documents seen by the BBC suggest.
Eugene Tenenbaum, a former director of Chelsea Football Club, helped to manage the billionaire's wealth at the time of the case in 2008, which Abramovich won.
Tenenbaum was giving evidence during proceedings taken against Abramovich by a company owned by another Russian billionaire, who was claiming the oil fields had been stolen from him and other investors.
The leaked documents now suggest there was a premeditated attempt by Abramovich to reduce the value of the other investors' stake in the Siberian venture.
Roman Abramovich's lawyers say their "client denies all the allegations made against him".
Lawyers for Eugene Tenenbaum say he "denies in the strongest terms any suggestion that he committed perjury or contempt of court".
The 2008 court case centred on the ownership of Siberian oil fields being developed jointly between Abramovich's company, Sibneft, and the Russian subsidiary of the British company, Sibir Energy PLC, owned by Russian billionaire Chalva Tchigirinsky.
Sibneft contributed money, while the subsidiary Yugraneft provided the licences for the oil fields.
Their partnership - which became known as Sibneft-Yugra - ended acrimoniously.