How is it possible to be married in one jurisdiction, and divorced in another, according to where you’ll get the most benefit?
I’m no lawyer, but it struck me as bizarre and something with potentially huge ramifications when Russian billionaire and Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich settled what is reportedly the biggest divorce settlement in history – a $2.5 billion payout to his former air hostess wife Irina – in a way that saved perhaps $12 billion.
“Mr Abramovich saved billions by getting his wife to agree to divorcing in Russia rather than London’s Royal Courts of Justice, where the couple reside, and where she could have demanded as much as 50 per cent of his fortune,” correspondents wrote in London’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Under British law, his wife would have been entitled to at least 35 per cent of Mr Abramovich’s $27.5 billion empire fortune, or $9.4 billion.
Instead, the Abramoviches were granted a [tag]quickie divorce[/tag] in Moscow. Cost, $10. Russian divorce lawyer Catherine Kalaschkikova said. “If there is mutual consent the divorce can be agreed straight away. The parties don’t even need to go to court.”
The couple married in 1991 and have five children.
Some people would have difficulty spending $2.5 billion, let alone $12 billion, so the numbers are not that important. It’s the principle. If the strong are allowed to manipulate the legal system like that, what protection do ordinary people – where daily bread may be a struggle – have against educated muscle?
