A Russian billionaire suing Australia’s foreign minister claims sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine have caused serious reputational damage.
Steel magnate Alexander Abramov launched legal action against Foreign Minister Penny Wong after the former government in April sanctioned 67 Russian elites and oligarchs over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions caused serious reputational damage and the legal fallout has led to ongoing financial loss, his barrister Ron Merkel QC told the Federal Court today.
A Russian billionaire is suing Foreign Minister Penny Wong. (The Age/Joe Armao)
He wants the sanctions lifted, arguing they are unique to Australia as no other country has placed similar bans on Abramov, who co-founded Russia’s biggest steelmaker Evraz.
“Our real point here is that the approach the minister has taken is ill-conceived,” he said.
Australia’s sanctions have also affected Abramov’s dealings in New Zealand, Merkel said.
He said the case was unusual in that public announcements by former Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne explaining her decision would form part of the lawsuit.
On April 7, Payne announced that the government had decided to impose “targeted financial sanctions and travel bans” on 67 people “for their role in Russia’s unprovoked, unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine.”
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Among those sanctioned were Russian military, business and government officials.
Wong is represented by lawyer Brendan Lim.
The federal government is considering a request to prevent public release of some information in the court documents, he said.
The matter will return before Judge Susan Kenny on August 26.