Judge to decide if couple are divorced

A DIVORCE court judge has been asked to decide whether or not a wealthy Russian businessman and his estranged wife are already divorced.

The man, who is involved in the Russian oil business and has a home in Switzerland, says they divorced in Russia more than a decade ago.

His estranged wife, who lives in England, says she knew nothing about a divorce until she came across documents in a safe.

She says he obtained a “fraudulent” divorce in Russia. She says she should be allowed to launch divorce proceedings in England and that an English divorce court judge should make decisions about the division of money.

Mrs Justice Parker analysed the dispute at a Valentine’s Day hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

She said she had to decide whether or not the couple had been divorced in Moscow in November 2006.

The judge, who says “vast amounts” are at stake, is expected to make a decision later in the year following a further hearing.

She has ruled that the family cannot be identified. “This is a very hard fought case with vast amounts at stake on both sides,” said Mrs Justice Parker. “The husband is adamant ... that they were agreeable to divorce - and the required practice of the Russian court was complied with.”

He said the family, who also have Cypriot citizenship, had forgotten how to do “simple things”.