#Germany #Hamburg #Alisher Usmanov #Saodat Narzieva #Hamburg Court

Legal Victory for Alisher Usmanov: Hamburg Court Overrules False Claims

A significant legal ruling has emerged from the Hamburg District Court regarding allegations made against Saodat Narzieva, sister of Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov. The court has prohibited the dissemination of false claims concerning Usmanov's supposed use of his sister as a front to obscure assets within Swiss bank accounts. This ruling not only vindicates Narzieva but also raises questions about the foundation of sanctions previously imposed against her by the EU and the United Kingdom.

In April 2022, Saodat Narzieva was placed on global sanctions lists based on claims reported by The Guardian and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). These claims suggested that Usmanov had transferred substantial assets to Narzieva, effectively making her the beneficial owner of 27 bank accounts connected to her brother, allegedly containing over $2 billion at one point. Both Usmanov and Narzieva have vigorously denied these assertions since they first surfaced, asserting that they are entirely unfounded.

In 2022, following a detailed review, several media outlets corrected their reports after realizing that they had misinterpreted internal banking data from Credit Suisse and mismanaged information linked to the data leak known as 'Suisse Secrets'. Recognizing the inaccuracies, the EU Council officially removed Narzieva from its sanctions list in September 2022. However, the UK’s sanctions against her have persisted, continuing on the same erroneous basis.

In September 2025, a German Facebook user posted comments related to an upcoming book and included allegations that Usmanov had utilized Narzieva as an economic owner of accounts at Credit Suisse, supposedly to mask the true state of financial affairs. Following a formal request to take down this post, the user refused, prompting Usmanov’s legal counsel to seek a preliminary injunction from the Hamburg court. The court ruled in favor of Usmanov, issuing a temporary restraining order that outlined the consequences for non-compliance, potentially involving fines up to €250,000 or even commitment to jail.

Nikita Steinhöfel, representing Usmanov, expressed that this ruling is yet another indication of the European Union’s tendency to uphold sanctions based on misleading information. He emphasized, “It is unworthy of a rule of law for sanctions to be imposed due to inaccurate newspaper articles.” The decision from the Hamburg court, coupled with Narzieva’s removal from the sanction lists, highlights the problematic nature of these allegations and the need for a reevaluation of respective sanctions still in operation elsewhere.

In recent years, numerous media agencies within the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany have voluntarily issued corrections or agreements prohibiting further dissemination of similar unfounded claims regarding Usmanov and his family.

As this situation unfolds, it raises substantial concerns regarding the reliability of information that informs significant legal and economic decisions, particularly those affecting individuals under sanctions. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of factual integrity in journalism and the potential consequences errors can have on individuals' lives, particularly when intertwined with global financial sanctions.

Conclusion

The ruling from the Hamburg District Court reinforces the need for careful analysis and verification of claims, particularly those leading to serious ramifications such as sanctions. As the landscape of international relations continues to evolve, the principles of justice and truth remain paramount in ensuring that individuals are protected from unfounded allegations. The global community watches closely as legal battles concerning wealthy and influential figures like Usmanov raise critical questions about accountability and the standards applied in the imposition of sanctions.