Wealthiest oligarch in Ukraine sues Russia over asset seizures

• The wealthiest oligarch in Ukraine sues Russia over asset seizures.
• Rinat Akhmetov filed a complaint against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights.
• The lawsuit seeks “immediate relief for Russia’s blockade, looting, destruction, and diversion of grain and metals”.

Rinat Akhmetov, the wealthiest oligarch in Ukraine, has filed a complaint against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights, alleging invasion-related infringement of property rights and confiscation of assets.

Akhmetov is the principal owner of two huge steel mills, one of which is Azovstal in the coastal city of Mariupol, which was captured by Russian forces last month.

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Akhmetov is a native of the captured city of Donetsk in the eastern Donbas region, where Russia’s invading forces are concentrated on expanding their foothold.

Numerous steel sector enterprises, coal mines, and other properties controlled by Akhmetov in the region and southern Ukraine have been taken by Russian military, according to the oligarch.

According to a statement made by Akhmetov’s System Capital Management, the lawsuit seeks “immediate relief for Russia’s blockade, looting, destruction, and diversion of grain and metals.”

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“Evil cannot go punished,” he declared in his statement. “Russia’s crimes against Ukraine and our people are egregious, and those guilty of them must be held liable . . . This lawsuit is one of the first international legal steps against Russia to stop their ongoing crimes, destruction of the Ukrainian economy and the plundering of Ukrainian assets.”

“The looting of Ukraine’s export commodities, including grain and steel, has already resulted in higher prices and people dying of hunger worldwide. These barbaric actions must be stopped, and Russia must pay in full. I believe in justice and I am fighting for it,” he added.