The judge accused the wife of a Russian oligarch, who hid her £1million handbag collection during the high-risk, tens of millions of pounds in divorce litigation, of leading the court “in a merry dance”.
Elsina Khayrova, 36, a former model and daughter of a Russian MP, and her husband Dmitry Tsetkov, 42, have been embroiled in a bitter dispute over millions of pounds worth of assets, the Telegraph reports.
The couple split last year after more than a decade of marriage when Ms Khayrova asked her husband for a divorce.
They have assets including a variety of properties including a £22million mansion on the Wentworth estate in Surrey, as well as £18million homes in London.
They own properties in Dubai and Cyprus alongside their multi-million pound car, jewelery and art collections.
Elsina Khayrova (pictured), 36, a former model and daughter of a Russian MP, and her husband Dmitry Tsetkov, 42, have been embroiled in a bitter dispute over millions of pounds worth of assets
The court was also told that Mr Tsvetkov (pictured), an entrepreneur who first came to the UK in 2004 and was given a British passport and permanent residence permit five years later, was unable to make “significant sums of money”. earn. since June 2022
Ms Khayrova failed to include her large handbag collection of more than 150 bags worth nearly £1million in her fortune.
At a hearing in February this year, she lied, saying she only owned about 20 handbags, and repeated that lie in court in May 2023.
According to the judge, she also “downplayed” the bags, saying it was disproportionate to appreciate them at all.
Judge Peel said in his Supreme Court ruling that the case had been “infected”. [Ms Khayrova’s] dishonesty from start to finish.
He added that she “led the court into a merry dance about purses” by lying about the assets.
Ms. Khayrova is the daughter of Rinat Khayrov, a Russian politician who worked at the country’s defense ministry before being elected to parliament in 2011, where he served until 2021.
After separating from her husband in 2020, Ms Khayrova was quick to deny Mr Tsvetkov access to her family’s bank accounts and credit cards, the court heard.
She also transferred some of her possessions in Cyprus to her mother’s name in what the judge said was an “obvious attempt” to take assets out of her husband’s reach.
Mr Judge Peel ruled that “greater responsibility for this expensive legal battle” fell on Mrs Khayrova (pictured left), who was ordered to pay half of her husband’s £1,761,488 legal fees
As part of their treasured jewelry collection, the couple owned high-quality diamonds and a Patek Phillipe watch, which were kept in a safe at Harrods.
Mr. Tsvetkov had the key to the box, but Ms. Khayrova convinced the store staff that the keys were lost and obtained a set without telling her husband, later omitting the items from the evidence communicated to the Supreme Court.
The court was also told that Mr Tsvetkov, an entrepreneur who first arrived in the UK in 2004 and was granted a UK passport and permanent residence five years later, has not been able to earn “significant amounts of money” since June 2022.
This was because Ms Khayrova blocked his access to the family’s bank accounts, the court said.
However, Judge Peel said he was optimistic that the “clever, resourceful and well-connected” Mr Tsvetkov could soon start trading again.
Mrs. Khayrova, on the other hand, was not employed during the marriage and tried to start a coffee business during the failed divorce proceedings.
“There is no real indication that her next business venture, a private members-only beauty club, is likely to be financially viable,” the judge said.
Judge Peel ruled that “greater responsibility for this expensive legal battle” rested with Mrs Khayrova, who was ordered to pay half of her husband’s £1,761,488 legal fees.