Businessman and founder of Alfa Group, Mikhail Fridman, prevailed in a case involving a housekeeper at his London residence, Athlone House. The information is drawn from a publication named Telegram.
Forbes places Friedman’s net worth at about $12.6 billion.
The court document shows that maid Dominika Kozlik was on maternity leave when sanctions against the Russian entrepreneur took effect in spring 2022. Those sanctions froze his accounts and prevented him from paying staff who managed the residence.
In October 2023, London’s High Court declined to lift the freeze on funds used to maintain the estate, including employees’ salaries.
As a result, Kozlik lost pregnancy and birth benefits and was dismissed in March 2022. She had worked as a cleaner since March 2021 and had been with Friedman since 2015 in various capacities. She began a year-long maternity leave in November 2021 and would have received about £1,500 per month ($1,900).
Kozlik’s claims included wrongful termination related to pregnancy, gender discrimination, and breach of contract. The court, however, described the housekeeper as having become a near-“victim of the process,” noting that paying her from frozen funds would risk a legal violation under the imposed sanctions.
The Russian billionaire has argued that sanctions against him are unfounded and has compared life under restrictions in London in 2022 to house arrest.
Last November, Ukraine added nine companies to sanctions for potential ties to Friedman. The decree targets firms based in Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and Cyprus for periods ranging from two to ten years. Ukrainian media have linked some of these entities to the businessman, though journalists have yet to publish detailed evidence establishing direct connections (citations: RBC-Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities).
On September 5, the Security Service of Ukraine accused Mikhail Fridman of financing activities connected to a Russian operation.
Previously, President Vucic stated that his country’s moral stance would not permit sanctions against Russia, a remark reflecting regional debates over punitive measures and their broader ethical implications (attribution: regional statements, press coverage).