Businessman and founder of Alfa Group, Mikhail Fridman, won the case against the maid of his London mansion, Athlone House. Information shared by the publication Telegram.
It is stated that Forbes estimates Friedman’s wealth at 12.6 billion dollars.
According to the lawsuit, maid Dominika Kozlik was on maternity leave when the Russian entrepreneur fell under British sanctions in the spring of 2022. As a result, his accounts were frozen and he was unable to pay the staff who ran the house.
In October 2023, the London High Court did not satisfy the businessman’s claim to lift the ban on paying for the maintenance of his estate, including the salaries of his employees, from frozen funds.
Due to this situation, Kozlik lost the benefits she was entitled to regarding pregnancy and birth and was dismissed in March 2022. She has been working there as a cleaner since March 2021 and has worked for Friedman in general since 2015. The woman went on maternity leave for a year in November 2021 and was due to receive £1.5k ($1.9k) monthly.
Kozlik sued Friedman for wrongful termination due to pregnancy, gender discrimination, and breach of contract. However, the court ruled that the housekeeper had virtually become a “victim of the process” and that the businessman could not pay him without committing a “criminal offense” due to the sanctions imposed on him.
The Russian billionaire said the sanctions against him were unfounded and compared life under restrictions in London in 2022 to house arrest.
Ukraine last November introduced Nine companies are being sanctioned for possible links to Friedman. According to the decree, restrictions are imposed on companies located in Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Cyprus for a period of 2 to 10 years. At the same time, Ukrainian media associates some of these companies with a Russian entrepreneur. According to RBC-Ukraine, the companies Erasmony Limited, International Distribution Systems Limited and Alfa Finance Holdings Limited may be associated with the businessman. Journalists do not provide detailed information about these alleged connections.
5 September Security Service of Ukraine accused Mikhail Fridman finances the Russian special operation.
Previously Vucic statedHe said that his country’s moral position does not allow sanctions against Russia.