09 November 2023

Billionaire’s ex-wife will lose even if she wins fight with son, lawyer says

09 November 2023

A Russian billionaire’s ex-wife who has sued her eldest son as part of a fight to get her hands on a £450 million divorce payout will lose even if she wins, a lawyer has suggested.

Tatiana Akhmedova 48, says her ex-husband, 65-year-old businessman Farkhad Akhmedov, has hidden assets and has accused their 27-year-old son, Temur Akhmedov, of acting as his father’s “lieutenant”.

Ms Akhmedova, who is from Russia but lives in London, says he has helped his father hide assets and owes her nearly £70 million.

Temur Akhmedov says the claim should be dismissed.

Mrs Justice Gwynneth Knowles has considered evidence in the battle between mother and son, at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, and is now listening to legal arguments.

A barrister representing Temur Akhmedov has told the judge that if Ms Akhmedova wins, the family will probably be “even more damaged”.

“This claim is bought in the Family Division and it is unfortunate that whatever the result, no-one in the family will benefit,” said Robert Levy QC.

“… in our submission, an order made against Temur for his mother’s benefit will likely mean the family is even more damaged.”

Ms Akhmedova was awarded a 41.5% share of her ex-husband’s £1 billion-plus fortune by a London judge in late 2016.

Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said she should receive £453 million – lawyers say the pay-out is the biggest of its kind.

But judges have heard that she has so far received about £5 million, and Farkhad Akhmedov has not voluntarily paid anything.

Mr Akhmedov says because he and his ex-wife are not British, and were not married in Britain, a British judge should not have made a decision.

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