Abramovich poisoned, briefly lost sight, skin peeling on face and hands

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian peace negotiators had symptoms of poisoning after meeting in Kyiv earlier this month.

Abramovich began to feel unwell at the beginning of March, while participating in informal peace talks in Kyiv, a source told The Guardian. Ukrainian MP Rustem Umerov also participated in the talks, and the men later traveled from Ukraine to Poland and then flew to Istanbul, where they received medical assistance.

Red eyes, peeling skin on face and hands

"It was during his first trip to Kyiv. Roman lost his sight for several hours. They were treated in a clinic in Turkey, along with Rustem," the source said.

After the meeting in the capital of Ukraine, Abramovich, who traveled between Moscow, Lviv and other negotiation sites, as well as at least two senior members of the Ukrainian negotiation team, developed symptoms including red eyes, constant and painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands, reports WSJ.

The statements of The Guardian's source align with claims of potential poisoning first reported by The Wall Street Journal and the investigative journalism magazine Bellingcat.

They ate chocolate and drank water

"Bellingcat can confirm that three members of the delegation who participated in the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on the night of March 3-4, 2022, experienced symptoms consistent with chemical poisoning. One of the victims was Russian businessman Roman Abramovich," Bellingcat writes.

Bellingcat said the symptoms included inflammation of the eyes and skin, and a penetrating pain in the eyes.

"The three men who experienced symptoms consumed only chocolate and water for hours before the symptoms appeared. A fourth member of the team who consumed water and chocolate did not have symptoms," Bellingcat wrote.

"Based on remote and on-site examinations, experts concluded that the symptoms were most likely the result of poisoning with an unspecified chemical weapon," Bellingcat writes.

Abramovich returned to negotiations

Abramovich's condition improved and he later returned to Kyiv to participate in another round of negotiations, the source said.

Abramovich's spokesman also confirmed today that Abramovich experienced poisoning symptoms, but did not provide further details. 

The Ukrainian government also did not disclose further details. "There is a lot of speculation at the moment, and we recommend following only official information," said a spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Abramovich and the Ukrainian negotiators are recovering and their lives are not in danger.

Were they poisoned by hardliners from Moscow?

According to WSJ, hardliners from Moscow who wanted to undermine the peace talks are blamed for the poisoning.

Roman Abramovich, as has been mentioned, participated in the peace talks as a mediator between the warring parties. He allegedly personally delivered a message from Zelenskyy to Putin.

Abramovich, like most oligarchs, ended up under sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as announced five days ago, asked President Joe Biden in a phone call not to impose sanctions on Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich because he could prove to be a useful mediator in peace negotiations with Moscow.

As a result, the White House persuaded the Treasury Department not to proceed with plans to impose sanctions on Abramovich, sources familiar with the situation said.

The fourth round of talks between the official Russian and Ukrainian delegations is expected to begin tomorrow in Istanbul.