Abramovich 'could be jailed'

A RUSSIAN TV reporter has raised the prospect of Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich going to jail over alleged financial irregularities in Chukotka, the remote Arctic region considered by many to be his personal fiefdom.

The comments have led to speculation that Abramovich may become the next so-called oligarch in the Kremlin's firing line. The reporter, interviewing Russian Audit Chamber chairman Sergei Stepashin on his department's findings that the province was bankrupt, repeatedly mentioned the prospect of Abramovich going to jail, at one stage pointing out that improper use of budget funds can bring five years' jail.

Stepashin avoided the question but said that Abramovich should go. 'He has a hobby - soccer - and let him continue to be involved with that, but one shouldn't conduct experiments with regions and people,' he said.

Stepashin added that the results of the chamber's audit of Chukotka showed that 'Abramovich is very much letting down the President of Russia'.

He accused authorities in Chukotka of 'crude violations of financial discipline' and criticised tax breaks that he said went to 25 companies owned by Abramovich's oil company Sibneft. These are said to amount to 13.7bn roubles (£270m).

Chukotka's government denies bankruptcy and says that it has been servicing and paying off debts. Abramovich was elected governor of Chukotka in December 2000 with more than 90% of the vote in the sparsely populated region.