UK court upholds sanctions against Potanin's charity foundation
A UK court has rejected Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin's appeal against a 2023 decision by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, which removed him from managing The Potanin Foundation. On 25 February 2026, the court ruled that Potanin's status as the "founder," with rights to appoint trustees and amend the foundation's charter, fell within the scope of UK sanctions, leading to the freezing of the organisation's assets and effectively halting its legal operations.
The court's ruling reflects the interplay of Potanin’s political status and the UK’s sanctions policy towards certain Russian businessmen. Due to the legal view of Potanin’s control over the foundation, the organisation is currently unable to function normally, placing its charitable activities at risk.
Going forward, the foundation's status and operations are likely to remain under legal and political scrutiny, with sanctions conditions potentially evolving in response to the wider international situation.
