Roman Abramovich is alleged to have evaded millions in taxes through a scheme involving luxury yacht rentals, as detailed in an investigation by the BBC and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. The scheme reportedly entailed misrepresenting Abramovich's yachts as being part of a commercial lease, enabling the avoidance of VAT on significant costs. Records indicate that five of Abramovich's yachts were leased to a Cypriot company, which then chartered them to companies in the British Virgin Islands under his control. Abramovich's legal representatives have claimed that he consistently sought and followed independent tax and legal advice in his financial dealings.