A Russian woman fighting to force her Russian billionaire ex-husband to hand over a £453 million award is the latest victim of a cat and mouse game often played in England’s divorce courts, a lawyer has said.
Tatiana Akhmedova was given a 41.5% share of businessman’s Farkhad Akhmedov’s £1 billion-plus fortune by Mr Justice Haddon-Cave following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court.
But she has told judges Mr Akhmedov has yet to pay the award – thought to be the biggest made by a divorce court judge in England – and is hiding assets.
She has taken legal action in England, Lichtenstein and the Isle of Man in a bid to get her hands on money.
Tatiana Akhmedova has taken legal action in England, Lichtenstein and the Isle of Man (Rick Findler/PA)
Mr Justice Haddon-Cave analysed further issues in the case at a hearing in London on Wednesday and a spokesman for Ms Akhmedova said she will “continue to seek recoveries which satisfy the judgment”.
Lawyer Georgina Hamblin, family law director at law firm Vardags, said on Thursday: “Mrs Akhmedova appears to be the latest victim of the cat and mouse enforcement saga that is being played out all too regularly through the English divorce courts.
“Resistance to settling awards is often fuelled not just by resentment and mistrust for their former spouse, but also by a misguided assumption that if they are ‘clever’ they can outwit the courts.
“But London is not the divorce capital of the world for nothing. Not only does it lead the way in equally recognising the role of breadwinner and homemaker, it has the widest reaching and most regularly exercised enforcement powers in the world. Spouses should be warned.”