In brief
BBC Panorama and the Bureau for Investigative Journalism have revealed that the world’s largest accounting firm helped Roman Abramovich’s advisers fabricate documents to mask his wealth and dodge tax. Hundreds of falsified, back‑dated records were used to conceal the billionaire’s ownership stakes across multiple jurisdictions. Abramovich has publicly denied any wrongdoing, but the investigation illustrates the power of elite advisory networks to obscure financial flows. View the full footage on BBC iPlayer to see how the scheme was wired out.
How Deloitte helped Roman Abramovich hide his fortune
A BBC investigation led by Panorama and the Bureau for Investigative Journalism has exposed a daring money‑hiding scheme involving the world’s biggest accounting firm, Deloitte. The producers unearthed hundreds of documents that were deliberately falsified and back‑dated so the Russian billionaire’s wealth could be kept out of sight and beyond the reach of tax authorities.
The documents, now in the public record, were used by Abramovich’s advisers to create phantom ownership entries and price‑level adjustments that smuggled assets through complex corporate structures. The scheme enabled the billionaire to avoid paying taxes on billions of euros that were held across multiple jurisdictions.
Roman Abramovich maintains that he is innocent, saying the allegations are false. Nonetheless, the investigation shows how powerful elites can tap the expertise of global financial advisers to mask red‑undercarriage finance.
'Watch the full investigation on BBC iPlayer'
Published 3 minutes ago – Europe
