Ex-Yukos investors can enforce $65 billion arbitration award against Russia in UK, court rules

London High Court Decision and Its Implications

LONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - Former Yukos investors can seek to enforce an arbitration award against Russia now worth more than $65 billion over the seizure of the defunct oil group, London's High Court ruled on Monday.

Background of the Yukos Arbitration Award

Three former Yukos shareholders – Hulley Enterprises, Yukos Universal and Veteran Petroleum – were awarded just over $50 billion by an arbitration tribunal in The Hague in 2014, which found Russia expropriated Yukos after its former owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky was jailed.

They have since fought legal battles over the award, which has swelled with interest to more than $65 billion - in Britain, the U.S. and the Netherlands – where the Dutch Supreme Court last year rejected Russia's appeal to overturn the award.

Russia's Legal Arguments and Court Responses

In London, Russia has argued it did not agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the arbitration, an argument which was rejected in November 2023 and again on appeal last February.

Following a hearing in January, the High Court ruled that the arbitration award should be recognised and that the investors could seek to enforce it in England.

Allegations of Fraud and the Court's Ruling

Russia had argued that the awards should not be recognised or enforced, in part because of alleged fraud on the part of Yukos' previous ultimate owners.

But Judge Robert Bright said in his ruling on Monday: "The moral failings that the Russian Federation has alleged ... are simply incapable of affording any defence."

The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Recovery Efforts and Future Prospects

Less Than $2 Million Recovered So Far

Yukos collapsed in 2006 after oil tycoon Khodorkovsky fell out with Putin and the government began demanding billions of dollars in alleged back taxes that resulted in Yukos ultimately being seized by the state.

The exiled billionaire spent 10 years in prison in Russia after being convicted of tax evasion and fraud, charges he denied, and now lives in London. He is not a party to the case.

Enforcement Against Russian State Assets

The GML shareholder group which once held a majority stake in Yukos through its subsidiaries previously said that, as Russia would not pay willingly, it would have to enforce the award against Russian commercial state assets.

But that process is likely to take several years, with Russia initially expected to appeal against Monday's ruling.

Amounts Recovered and Auctioned Assets

The former investors have so far recovered just 1.6 million euros ($1.88 million) by auctioning 18 Russian vodka brands, including Stolichnaya and Moskovskaya.

($1 = 0.8516 euros)

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Sarah Young and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)