Paris, August 2nd, 2011 – In a case, which is bound to become another milestone in the saga of Russian corruption, Mr. Vitaly Arkhangelsky,a prominent Russian businessman and his group companies, the Oslo Marine Group seek justice before the courts of Europe as it is apparently not possible for them to overcome corrupt and malign influences operating in the courts of St. Petersburg.
Mr. Arkhangelsky, the owner of a shipping and insurance empire valued at $ 1 billion in 2008, who is fighting Russia's extradition request from France, has on July 26th, 2011 issued a writ of summons in the District Court of Nicosia, Cyprus (https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwUKAc-dFC_HNGYxNWFjNmQtYzZiMC00NmMyLTgzNjktZTU2YWVjMmU2MjQy&hl=ru) alleging conspiracy and fraud involving three shadowy Cypriot companies, allegedly owned and/or controlled by the Bank and/or Mr Savelyev. These persons, it is alleged, participated in a conspiracy to expropriate assets belonging to the Oslo Marine Group, probably also in conjunction with the Governor of St Petersburg and an ally of Vladimir Putin, Mrs. Valentina Matvienko, as well as the chief of police, Mr Piotrovsky. Mrs. Matvienko is presently campaigning to become Speaker of Federation Council, the upper chamber of Russia's Parliament.
A copy of the statement of claim in the action, which will be filed at the end of the summer recess in Cyprus, describes the role played by the Bank, Mr Savelyev and the other co-conspirators. It can be downloaded at https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwUKAc-dFC_HZWJhNTk0ZjMtM2VjMi00ZjYzLTlkODEtMDBkYzVmMWIyYjBm&hl=ruhttp://arkhangelsky.blogspot.com/.
In these proceedings, the Arkhangelskys claim, amongst other things, damages in conspiracy and fraud for the wrongful expropriation of their group’s assets. The three Cypriot defendant companies are Ultriva Ltd., Datadot Technology Ltd.and Intucel Ltd. which, it is alleged, were established in Cyprus exclusively to cover the tracks of illegal expropriation of Mr. Arkhangelsky's property.
The assets in question, an insurance company and a shipping terminal, were seized in 2008 by the bank in a dispute over a loan, and sold to the Cyprus companies for a knockdown price. In the meantime Mr. Arkhangelsky became the target of official persecution organized on Governor’s behalf.
In 2009 Akhangelsky fled to France fearing arrest in a police probe, which he said was instigated by Mrs. Matvienko. This was followed by an extradition request from Russia. Earlier this year, Mr. Arkhangelsky filed a criminal complaint with the Principal Investigating Judge of the Court of Nice alleging that the Bank of St. Petersburg’s director and a group of unidentified persons have falsified documents in an attempt to seize his property in France (see: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwUKAc-dFC_HN2RhZDAwZDMtNDNjYS00ZDBiLWFhZDEtZDY5OWJlMGUyNWYz&hl=ru).
From both the Cyprus statement of claim and the French complaint, it can be seen that from at least 2007 to present, Mr. Arkhangelsky, and his wife, together with their group of companies, the Oslo Marine Group, have been the subject of an orchestrated campaign by the Bank of St Petersburg, directed by Mr Savelyev, its Chairman, to unlawfully asset strip two valuable companies from the Group, namely, Western Terminal and Scandinavia Insurance.
As part of that campaign the Bank, Mr. Savelyev and the other co-conspirators, probably also in conjunction with the Governor of St Petersburg, Mrs Matvienko, and the chief of police, Mr Piotrovsky, using the “administrative resources” at their command, entered into a conspiracy, amongst other things, to fabricate a criminal case against Mr. Arkhangelsky using documents and seals removed from their offices and belonging to the Group companies, by police officers that seem to have acted on the direct instruction of Mrs Matvienko/Mr Piotrovsky. Mr. Arkhangelsky is convinced that the fabrication of that criminal case is part of the conspiracy which is personally directed by Mrs. Matvienko.
Presently Mr. Arkhangelsky is unable to return to Russia where there is no hope of an impartial hearing when viewed against the weight of corruption with which they have had to contend thus far. The Arkhangelskys explain very clearly that they have sought a vindication of their rights and those of their Group through the courts in Russia, but have been the victim of egregious misconduct and misuse of power by the so called “administrative resources” and influence by or on behalf of the Bank, Mr Savelyev and the other co-conspirators, at whose instance, it is strongly suspected: forged documents have been relied upon; fraudulent evidence has been presented; threats of physical violence have been made; and certain members of their legal team have been coerced and suborned by the Bank, Mr Savelyev and the other co-conspirators. The net result of all of this is that, with the deployment of improper influence in, and interference with, the Russian judicial system, the Arkhangelskys have been denied justice in Russia and thus seek remedy elsewhere against those persons responsible for inflicting loss and damage on their Group and for wrongfully expropriating the Group’s assets.
The Arkhangelskys have openly invited the Bank of St Petersburg and its relevant officials as well as the off shore companies which are owned and/or controlled and or directed by the Bank, Mr Savelyev and the other co-conspirators, to submit to the jurisdiction of the High Court in London, being a fully independent and internationally recognized and respected jurisdiction, where these allegations can be fully and properly tested (see : http://arkhangelsky-en.blogspot.com/2011/08/open-invitation-to-submit-to.html).
“ We are determined to bring those responsible for the conspiracy to defraud us and our Group to justice leaving no stone unturned in that process”, said Mr. Arkhangelsky. - I intend to pursue all of the wrongdoers in whatever jurisdiction is open to me”.
For more information please contact:
François AMELI Esq. William BOURDON Esq.
Cabinet BEA Cabinet BVB
7 rue de Chaillot 156 rue de Rivoli
75116 Paris 75001 PARIS
France FRANCE
Tel: +33 1 53 57 78 00 Tél. : +33 1 42 60 32 60
Mr. Vitaly ARKHANGELSKY
E-mail: petrogradedoo@gmail.com
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