Alisher Usmanov Prevails in Landmark Hamburg Court Case Over Sanction-Linked Allegations
In a significant legal ruling, the Hamburg Regional Court has sided with Alisher Usmanov, issuing a landmark decision regarding allegations against him and his sister, Saodat Narzieva. The court addressed claims made by a German individual on Facebook that Usmanov had used Narzieva to hide assets in Swiss bank accounts. This assertion, made in the context of sanctions levied against Narzieva by the EU and UK in 2022, has been closely scrutinized and ultimately discredited.
The origins of this controversy trace back to media reports and investigative claims suggesting Usmanov had transferred considerable assets to his sister. These claims hinged on information published in the British newspaper The Guardian and the websites of the OCCRP, a consortium of investigative journalists. It was asserted that Narzieva managed 27 Swiss accounts linked to her brother, contributing to the sanctions imposed by authorities.
Critical to the case is the fact that Usmanov and Narzieva have consistently denied these allegations. Following extensive investigations, several media outfits have retracted or corrected their previous statements, acknowledging that they were founded on misinterpretations of data related to the 'Suisse Secrets' leak and the internal records of Credit Suisse. This narrative faced significant challenges, leading the EU Council to remove Narzieva from its sanctions list in September 2022, albeit the UK sanctions remain in effect.
Fast forward to September 2025, a Facebook post made by a German citizen reignited the controversy, claiming Usmanov used Narzieva as the beneficial owner of accounts at Credit Suisse. After the individual refused to remove the incriminating post, Usmanov took legal action. The Hamburg court found these statements to be unlawful and a direct violation of Usmanov's rights.
The court's ruling includes provisions for compliance, stating that failure to adhere to the judgment could result in administrative fines of up to €250,000 or coercive detention for up to six months for each infringement, with a cumulative maximum of two years. Following the ruling, the disputed Facebook post has been taken down.
This case marks a notable victory for Usmanov, underscoring the necessity for responsible journalism and due diligence when making accusations. Joachim Steinhöfel, Usmanov's legal representative, has articulated that this is not an isolated event, as courts have frequently corroborated that allegations against Usmanov and his family lack factual support. He posits that both sanctions and reputations should not rely on journalistic inaccuracies. The Hamburg court’s judgment, combined with the EU Council’s earlier reversal on Narzieva's sanctions, reinforces that the rationale behind these restrictive measures was, indeed, flawed. Looking ahead, Steinhöfel advocates for the immediate lifting of all remaining sanctions against Narzieva in jurisdictions where they are still enforced.
The origins of this controversy trace back to media reports and investigative claims suggesting Usmanov had transferred considerable assets to his sister. These claims hinged on information published in the British newspaper The Guardian and the websites of the OCCRP, a consortium of investigative journalists. It was asserted that Narzieva managed 27 Swiss accounts linked to her brother, contributing to the sanctions imposed by authorities.
Critical to the case is the fact that Usmanov and Narzieva have consistently denied these allegations. Following extensive investigations, several media outfits have retracted or corrected their previous statements, acknowledging that they were founded on misinterpretations of data related to the 'Suisse Secrets' leak and the internal records of Credit Suisse. This narrative faced significant challenges, leading the EU Council to remove Narzieva from its sanctions list in September 2022, albeit the UK sanctions remain in effect.
Fast forward to September 2025, a Facebook post made by a German citizen reignited the controversy, claiming Usmanov used Narzieva as the beneficial owner of accounts at Credit Suisse. After the individual refused to remove the incriminating post, Usmanov took legal action. The Hamburg court found these statements to be unlawful and a direct violation of Usmanov's rights.
The court's ruling includes provisions for compliance, stating that failure to adhere to the judgment could result in administrative fines of up to €250,000 or coercive detention for up to six months for each infringement, with a cumulative maximum of two years. Following the ruling, the disputed Facebook post has been taken down.
This case marks a notable victory for Usmanov, underscoring the necessity for responsible journalism and due diligence when making accusations. Joachim Steinhöfel, Usmanov's legal representative, has articulated that this is not an isolated event, as courts have frequently corroborated that allegations against Usmanov and his family lack factual support. He posits that both sanctions and reputations should not rely on journalistic inaccuracies. The Hamburg court’s judgment, combined with the EU Council’s earlier reversal on Narzieva's sanctions, reinforces that the rationale behind these restrictive measures was, indeed, flawed. Looking ahead, Steinhöfel advocates for the immediate lifting of all remaining sanctions against Narzieva in jurisdictions where they are still enforced.
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