Wife fighting for £450m in UK’s biggest-ever divorce hasn’t even been paid enough money by her Russian oligarch ex to ‘buy a bag of crisps’, court hears

• Tatiana Akhmedova has been fighting in British courts to get the millions owed 
• In 2016 she was awarded 41.5 per cent share of Farkhad Akhmedov fortune
• Mr Akhmedov has moved vast amounts of his money into Liechtenstein trusts

The ex-wife of a Russian billionaire who a judge ruled was owed £450million of his fortune has not even received the sum of ‘a bag of crisps’, a court heard today.

Tatiana Akhmedova has been fighting in the British courts to get her hands on the 41.5 per cent share of oligarch Farkhad Akhmedov’s wealth which she was awarded in 2016. 

She claims that, in the wake of the initial ruling, which was the UK’s biggest ever divorce case, Mr Akhmedov has deployed a ‘strategy of evasion’ by putting assets beyond her reach. 

These include the oil baron’s £346million super yacht, the MV Luna, as well as an impressive modern art collection. 

Her legal action drawn in a number of trusts based in Liechtenstein, into which Mr Akhmedov has transferred assets. 

Tatiana Akhmedova arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London (in a previous hearing) where the latest virtual round of Britain’s biggest divorce case with her ex-husband, billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov happened today

She claims that, in the wake of the initial ruling, which was the UK’s biggest ever divorce case, Mr Akhmedov (pictured) has deployed a ‘strategy of evasion’ by putting assets beyond her reach 

Trustees of two Liechtenstein trusts, into which Mr Akhmedov has transferred ‘monetary assets’, say proceedings brought against them in London by Ms Akhmedova should be shelved. 

A barrister representing the two Liechtenstein trusts on Tuesday asked Justice Gwynneth Knowles, who is overseeing the latest round in the Family Division of the High Court, to ‘stay’ (halt) the claim.

Graham Brodie QC said Ms Akhmedova would not be able to enforce orders made by a British judge.

He suggested that Ms Akhmedova had portrayed Liechtenstein as ‘some sort of pariah state’, which was ‘groundless’, ‘irresponsible’ and ‘regrettable’.

He told the virtual hearing: ‘It is not because Liechtenstein is a pariah state that it does not enforce orders.

The oil baron’s superyacht is worth an eyewatering £350million and is crewed by 50 sailors

‘It is because Liechtenstein and the UK are not parties to a treaty which makes provision for the mutual enforcement of judgments.’

Mr Brodie said Mr Akhmedov had decided to transfer assets to Liechtenstein, possibly to ‘protect’ assets from Ms Akhmedova or from the ‘Russian mafia’.

But he said Mr Akhmedov had taken those steps and Ms Akhmedova just ‘had to deal with it’.

He said Ms Akhmedova had not yet recovered enough money to ‘purchase a bag of crisps’ and there is ‘no prospect of her doing so’.

Mr Brodie told Mrs Justice Knowles that she was being asked to play the role of a ‘judicial King Canute’.

A barrister representing Ms Akhmedova said the application for a stay should be rejected.

Ms Akhmedova says Mr Akhmedov has tried to put assets, including a £346million yacht – the MV Luna (pictured) – and a modern art collection, beyond her reach

James Willan said a trial of Ms Akhmedova’s claim should take place and told the judge ‘their (the two trusts) application for a case management stay is the latest manoeuvre calculated to avoid the trial.’

‘This application depends on a, misconceived, theory that Liechtenstein entities enjoy some unique immunity from having to defend proceedings in, or comply with orders made by, courts outside Liechtenstein.’

Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, who analysed the case at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London, 2016, said Ms Akhmedova should walk away with £453 million.

But the court has heard she has only so far pocketed about £5million and Mr Akhmedov has not ‘voluntarily’ paid a penny.

She is now taking legal action against son Temur Akhmedov, who she claims is ‘heavily involved’ in his father’s affairs and described him as his ‘lieutenant’. 

The hearing is due to end later this week.     

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