Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov has filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Russia for its military aggression in Ukraine. The businessman asks the court to bring the aggressor to justice for the crimes committed and the violation of his property rights during the war unleashed on Ukrainian soil, the SCM press service reports.
"Evil cannot go unpunished. Russia’s crimes against Ukraine and our people are egregious, and those guilty of them must be held liable. With the help of the best Ukrainian and American lawyers, I have lodged an application with the European Court of Human Rights for damages. 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," Akhmetov stressed.
To represent his interests, the oligarch chose the international law firm Covington & Burling LLP. The billionaire's legal representative is Mr. Bart van Vooren of the firm’s Brussels office.
In addition, Akhmetov also applied to the ECHR with a request to take urgent interim measures to prevent Russia’s further blockade, looting, diversion and destruction of grain and steel produced by the SCM enterprises.
The businessman called on other entrepreneurs who had suffered from the aggressive actions of Russia to file lawsuits.
Context. According to the KSE Institute, as of early June, the total amount of direct losses to the Ukrainian economy from damage and destruction of residential and non-residential buildings and infrastructure is $103.9 billion. The total economic losses as a result range from $564-600 billion.
