Kireeva –v- Bedzhamov & ors

Wednesday 24th – Thursday 25th November 2021

Appeal 1 – The Applicant (here and below), Lyubov Andreevna Kireeva, challenges Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the order of Mr Justice Snowden dated 25 August 2021. Mr Justice Snowden granted permission to appeal these two paragraphs in his order.

The Applicant is the Trustee and Bankruptcy Manager in Russia of the Respondent/1st Defendant, Georgy Bedzhamov. On 27 March 2019 a Worldwide Freezing Order was made against the Respondent/1st Defendant. This order was varied by an order of Mrs Justice Falk dated 5 March 2021 following an application by the Respondent/1st Defendant to allow a charge and the sale of the Belgrave Square Property, allegedly negotiated for £35m.  On 19 February 2021 the Applicant applied for the recognition at common law of the Respondent’s Russian bankruptcy and for other ancillary relief in respect of the Belgrave Square Property. The Applicant also applied on 17 March 2021 to set aside the 5 March order.

On 25 August 2021 Mr Justice Snowden ordered that the bankruptcy order made in Russia on 2 July 2018, and the appointment of the Trustee, be recognised at common law (paragraph 1). Mr Justice Snowden directed that any application relating to movable assets should be made to Mrs Justice Falk. Mr Justice Snowden dismissed the recognition application insofar as it related to seeking assistance in relation to immovable assets located in England  (paragraph 3), and he dismissed the set aside application (paragraph 4), finding that there is no reason to set the 5 March order aside.

Appeal 2 – The Appellant/1st Defendant, Georgy Bedzhamov, challenges Paragraph 1 of the order of Snowden J dated 25 August 2021. Snowden J granted permission to appeal paragraph 1 in his order.

On 25 August 2021 Mr Justice Snowden, in paragraph 1 of his order, directed that both the Russian bankruptcy order and the appointment of the Trustee, be recognised at common law.

Lower Court Judgment:

Kireeva & Anor v Bedzhamov [2021] EWHC 2281 (Ch) (13 August 2021) (bailii.org)

Day 1

Part 1

Part 2

Day 2

Part 1 (final part)