Rinat Akhmetov’s Latest Lawsuit to Recoup His Company’s Losses

The wealthiest man in Ukraine recently filed a suit against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights. In it, Rinat Akhmetov asks to recoup the losses his companies have suffered due to the Russian attacks on Ukraine. His comments about the atrocities in his homeland were unequivocal.

“Evil cannot go unpunished. Russia’s crimes against Ukraine and our people are egregious, and those guilty of them must be held liable,” Akhmetov admonished.

Here is a roundup of what the suit intends to do for his country and how his empire, including the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, has launched numerous initiatives to end the destruction.

Plans, Influence, and War

Before the war officially began in February, Akhmetov visited the port city of Mariupol to discuss his billion-dollar investment there. Not only was he going to open more manufacturing facilities, he was also going to start a free university where students could prepare themselves for lucrative positions in a growing sector.

In Mariupol, a city that’s been hard hit by a siege, it’s a devastating blow for everyone but Russians. Instead of seeing Akhmetov’s planned improvements in the neighborhoods, residents see destruction at every turn. Between Akhmetov’s two steel plants there, he employs around 40,000 people.

In the suit, the billionaire primarily focuses on grain and steel, two products that have sustained substantial reductions in Ukraine. The larger effects of these losses have been catastrophic. As Rinat Akhmetov said, “The looting of Ukraine’s export commodities, including grain and steel, has already resulted in higher prices and people dying of hunger worldwide. These barbaric actions must be stopped, and Russia must pay in full.”

Russia’s Response

The Kremlin has flat-out denied the suit. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia isn’t governed by a human rights court in Europe, meaning the court has no bearing over the collective country. He said, “We left the (jurisdiction of) relevant documents. Therefore, here the answer is absolutely obvious.”

Akhmetov may not be shocked at the callousness behind Russia’s words, but he intends to do everything in his power to make the country answer for what it has done. As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to justify the war with lie after lie, his henchmen follow suit and continuously dismiss any allegations by Ukrainian citizens.

This is seen not only in the deaths of civilians, but also in the ongoing distress of those living in occupied territories.

Philanthropy in Action

The suit against Russia is more about the welfare of Ukraine than it is about Akhmetov’s portfolio. The billionaire has been losing money since 2014, when Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine began making moves to seize power from loyal Ukrainian citizens. These disruptions didn’t just make it difficult for him to keep up with a production schedule, they also led to anxiety among workers and their families.

With the latest round of conflicts affecting more than just a few select territories, it’s caused Akhmetov to rethink his allies. Most famously, he’s been working with President Volodymyr Zelensky to get more done. Akhmetov and Zelensky may not have had the most amicable relationship in the past, but they’ve set aside their differences to play for the same team.

Finally, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has been active since the beginning of the fighting. Immediately after the first strikes, Akhmetov authorized aid for evacuation, medical supplies, and any other commodities that would help prevent a humanitarian disaster. His foundation has been collecting first-person stories of survival and uses them to tell the world about what’s happening in his Museum of Civilian Voices.

The numbers of the war are truly staggering. More than 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes and 15.7 million people have suffered from the aggression. This lawsuit is just one more way for the billionaire to seek justice and to ensure that his people aren’t forgotten as this war drags on.

 

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