Abramovich rival ‘grandstanding’, says lawyer

RUSSIAN oligarch Boris Berezovsky has a lively sense of his own importance and some of his actions appear to conform to the “classic psychology of the political exile”, a lawyer for Chelsea Football Club’s owner Roman Abramovich told the High Court in London.

Jonathan Sumption QC, whose client is being sued for more than £3 billion (€3.48bn), said Berezovsky grandstands to members of his “private circle”.

Berezovsky is claiming that Abramovich “intimidated” him into selling shares in Russian oil company Sibneft at a fraction of their value and is alleging breach of trust and contract.

He is due to give evidence today at the Commercial Court in London in a trial due to last two months.

Abramovich denies the allegations, disputes that “oral agreements” were made and denies that Berezovsky is entitled to damages.

His lawyer has told judge Mrs Justice Gloster that Berezovsky left Russia in 2000 after a dispute with then president Vladimir Putin and subsequently settled in England.

He said Berezovsky had not “contributed a single cent” to acquiring or building up Sibneft, nor made any managerial contribution.

He said Berezovsky was a “power broker” paid millions of pounds by businesses controlled by Abramovich for his services as a “political godfather” following the collapse of communism in Russia in the 1990s.

Abramovich’s lawyer said Berezovsky’s claims for damages were “difficult to justify”. The case continues.