An "enormously wealthy" Russian businessman locked in a £30mn divorce battle in London has claimed that western sanctions on his country are preventing him from meeting his ex-wife’s demands. Property investor Vasiliy Peganov, who now lives near Moscow, is facing a claim from his former wife, Tatiana Peganova, after he said a Belgravia property fraud ruined an earlier settlement agreement. The High Court heard this week that Peganov has declined to provide a breakdown of his assets, though he told the court his UK bank accounts had been closed and transfers from Russia were "practically impossible".
Appearing by video link from Russia, Peganov argued that sharing asset information risked breaching Russian currency controls or UK anti-money laundering rules. He rejected suggestions of cryptocurrency payments or using third parties. The English court ruled against his request to pause proceedings, despite a Russian anti-suit injunction threatening his ex-wife with a Rbs280.7mn ($3.5mn) penalty.
The case stems from a previously agreed 2018 financial settlement where Peganova was promised at least £2mn from the sale of the couple’s Belgravia flat, alongside a lump sum and share of offshore trust assets. Peganov claims those assets were stolen in a fraud orchestrated by disgraced English solicitor Stephen Jones, who was jailed in 2022. Peganova is seeking a total of £30mn, including a share of offshore trust assets and capitalised maintenance.
The couple divorced by consent in Russia in 2019, though those proceedings dealt only with two Russian properties. Peganova’s lawyers describe her ex-husband as living an "extravagant lifestyle", employing bodyguards and a chef and often travelling by private jet, while Peganov disputes this, telling the court he lives "in a simple wooden house" and has provided over Rbs156mn in family support.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing