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Roman Abramovich wins court battle against Berezovsky | Roman Abramovich wins court battle against Berezovsky |
(35 minutes later) | |
Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich has won his legal battle against exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky. | Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich has won his legal battle against exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky. |
Mr Berezovsky, 65, said Mr Abramovich, 45, had intimidated him into selling shares in Russian oil giant Sibneft. He was claiming £3bn ($4.7bn) in damages. | Mr Berezovsky, 65, said Mr Abramovich, 45, had intimidated him into selling shares in Russian oil giant Sibneft. He was claiming £3bn ($4.7bn) in damages. |
But the London Commercial Court judge said Mr Berozovsky had been an "inherently unreliable" witness. | But the London Commercial Court judge said Mr Berozovsky had been an "inherently unreliable" witness. |
Mr Berezovsky said he was "shocked" at Mrs Justice Gloster's decision and that she had rewritten Russian history. | Mr Berezovsky said he was "shocked" at Mrs Justice Gloster's decision and that she had rewritten Russian history. |
The BBC estimates the total legal costs in the case are up to £100m. | The BBC estimates the total legal costs in the case are up to £100m. |
In her ruling the judge said: "On my analysis of the entirety of the evidence, I found Mr Berezovsky an unimpressive, and inherently unreliable, witness, who regarded truth as a transitory, flexible concept, which could be moulded to suit his current purposes." | In her ruling the judge said: "On my analysis of the entirety of the evidence, I found Mr Berezovsky an unimpressive, and inherently unreliable, witness, who regarded truth as a transitory, flexible concept, which could be moulded to suit his current purposes." |
She said she dismissed Mr Berezovsky's claims in relation to Sibneft - and a claim Mr Abramovich had broken a promise over a deal involving Russian aluminium company RusAl - "in their entirety". | She said she dismissed Mr Berezovsky's claims in relation to Sibneft - and a claim Mr Abramovich had broken a promise over a deal involving Russian aluminium company RusAl - "in their entirety". |
She also said she found Mr Abramovich "to be a truthful, and on the whole reliable, witness". | |
'Political godfather' | 'Political godfather' |
Mr Berezovsky, who had told reporters before the verdict that: "I believe in the system", afterwards said : "I am absolutely amazed by what's happened today... particularly because Lady Gloster took the responsibility to rewrite Russian history." | |
Asked if he felt Russia's President Vladimir Putin would be happy with the ruling, he replied: "Sometimes I have the impression that Putin himself wrote this judgment." | |
He said he did not regret bringing the case against Mr Abramovich and did not know if he would appeal, adding: "I was absolutely shocked... but life is life." | |
The BBC's Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford said there had been a lot of interest in the case in Russia as it shed light on the controversial sale of Russia's mineral wealth by the state to a small group of oligarchs in the early 1990s. | |
Mr Abramovich was not in court for the ruling and is thought to be in Monte Carlo for Chelsea's Super Cup Final on Friday night. | Mr Abramovich was not in court for the ruling and is thought to be in Monte Carlo for Chelsea's Super Cup Final on Friday night. |
But a statement issued on his behalf said: "There were many serious allegations made against Mr Abramovich by Mr Berezovsky, including attacks on Mr Abramovich's honesty and integrity. | |
"We are pleased that the judge has firmly rejected all such allegations and has described Mr Abramovich as a truthful and frank witness who showed a responsible and honest approach when giving evidence in this case." | |
When he gave evidence, Mr Abramovich had said Mr Berezovsky was paid millions of pounds for his services as a "political godfather" but was not a business partner. | When he gave evidence, Mr Abramovich had said Mr Berezovsky was paid millions of pounds for his services as a "political godfather" but was not a business partner. |
The court heard Mr Berezovsky "fled Russia, never to return" in 2000, after falling out with President Vladimir Putin. | |
Both men have homes in London, with Mr Abramovich owning a property in Knightsbridge as well as a 400-acre estate in Fyning, West Sussex. | Both men have homes in London, with Mr Abramovich owning a property in Knightsbridge as well as a 400-acre estate in Fyning, West Sussex. |
On his arrival in court on Friday Mr Berezovsky, who now faces a huge legal bill, had told reporters: "I believe in the system." | |
'Power broker' | |
During the three-month trial, the court heard details of the lifestyles of Russia's super-rich oligarchs. | |
Mr Berezovsky claimed Mr Abramovich was a "gangster" while Mr Abramovich responded by saying there were times when Mr Berezovsky was "something of a megalomaniac". | Mr Berezovsky claimed Mr Abramovich was a "gangster" while Mr Abramovich responded by saying there were times when Mr Berezovsky was "something of a megalomaniac". |
The hearing was told Mr Abramovich bought a businessman a plane to say thank you after one deal. | The hearing was told Mr Abramovich bought a businessman a plane to say thank you after one deal. |
Mr Berezovsky told the court he was born in Moscow, studied mechanics and mathematics and worked as a designer for Russian state car maker AvtoVAZ in the 1970s, before going into business in the 1980s. | Mr Berezovsky told the court he was born in Moscow, studied mechanics and mathematics and worked as a designer for Russian state car maker AvtoVAZ in the 1970s, before going into business in the 1980s. |
In the 1990s, following the collapse of communism, Mr Berezovsky embarked on a political career and Mr Abramovich's lawyers claimed he was a "power broker" and a "highly controversial figure". | In the 1990s, following the collapse of communism, Mr Berezovsky embarked on a political career and Mr Abramovich's lawyers claimed he was a "power broker" and a "highly controversial figure". |
The hearing was told Mr Berezovsky's expenses - including "palaces in France", "private aircraft", "valuable paintings" and "jewellery for his girlfriend" - were paid for by Mr Abramovich. | The hearing was told Mr Berezovsky's expenses - including "palaces in France", "private aircraft", "valuable paintings" and "jewellery for his girlfriend" - were paid for by Mr Abramovich. |
Danny Jowell QC, for Mr Abramovich, told Friday's hearing they were concerned Mr Berezovsky may have been "disposing of assets in recent months". | |