Azovstal Owner Suing Russia For Violation Of Property Rights: 'Evil Should Be Punished'

Rinat Akhmetov, the Ukrainian oligarch who owns the Azovstal steel plant which witnessed a brutal Russian attack, is suing Kremlin in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR ) for "gross violations of his property rights." Akhmetov is being represented by the international law firm Covington & Burling LLP.

According to a statement from his company System Capital Management (SCM), Akhmetov is seeking compensation for the massive destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure and countless human suffering inflicted by the Russian invasion. "The Russian artillery bombardment of the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol in order to destroy the last stronghold of the Ukrainian resistance in this city has become evidence for the entire international community of Russia's disrespect for international law and human rights," the statement said.

The lawsuit also urges urgent precautionary measures to prevent further blockade, looting, diversion of flows, and destruction by Russia of grain and steel produced by SCM. Akhmetov has also asked the Court to make it clear to Russia that its actions to further damage the Ukrainian economy was unacceptable.

"As the owner of Azovstal and many other industrial enterprises that became the target of the Russian armed forces that invaded Ukraine, Mr. Akhmetov is doing everything possible to bring Russia to justice for the destruction it is sowing in Ukraine," the SCM added.

The oligarch also wanted the court to give the case priority status. "Evil cannot go unpunished. Russia's crimes against Ukraine and every Ukrainian are outrageous. The perpetrators must be punished. With the help of the best Ukrainian and American lawyers, I filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights about damages. This lawsuit is one of the first international legal actions against Russia, the purpose of which is to stop the criminal activities of the Russian aggressor, destroy the Ukrainian economy and steal Ukrainian assets," Akhmetov said.

In an earlier interview, the oligarch mentioned how the destruction of the Ilyich Metallurgical Plant and the Azovstal plant cost him over $20 billion. Besides the industrial group, Akhmetov, whose fortune in 2021 was estimated at 7.6 billion dollars, owns Shakhtar football club, a charity fund of his name, and the Media Group Ukraine holding.