Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, is once again embroiled in legal proceedings surrounding the controversial sale of the Alfa Nero superyacht.
Russian national Yulia Gyryeva-Motlokhov has launched an appeal against a recent decision by a US federal judge that dismissed subpoenas targeting Browne, his family, and other government officials.
The crux of the dispute revolves around the ownership of the Alfa Nero, which Gyryeva-Motlokhov asserts belongs to her father—an oligarch currently facing sanctions.
The situation has escalated back to court after Judge Jesse M. Furman of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in June that Gyryeva-Motlokhov did not satisfy the necessary legal requirements for relief under federal law.
This ruling has been framed by the Antiguan government as a significant victory against what they describe as a harassment campaign aimed at discrediting their leadership.
Dominican Anthony Astaphan, lead counsel for Antigua and Barbuda, expressed confidence in the judicial process, emphasizing that the court’s decision to quash the subpoenas was unequivocal.
Astaphan stated, “This was always a campaign to discredit the government and the prime minister in respect of the Alfa Nero,” said.
He also highlighted the financial burden the case has placed on the government, indicating that attorneys are exploring avenues to recover costs on an indemnity basis.
“I will follow up with the US lawyers because in these countries, if you come with a frivolous matter, you can be condemned for the costs,” he noted.
In light of the ongoing legal challenges, Prime Minister Browne reiterated his government’s commitment to transparency, rule of law, and accountability. He emphasized that Antigua and Barbuda will steadfastly oppose any attempts, whether domestic or international, to tarnish the reputation of its officials or compel the nation to reconsider decisions made in the best interest of its citizens.
As the appeal unfolds, the international community will be closely watching the developments in this high-profile case, which intertwines issues of governance, international law, and the implications of sanctions on global oligarchs.
farmer brown and our PM skerrit…birds of the same feathers….so…..wait for our beloved Chinese to start ….making noise for Dominica land….
The Arab-Dominican (As*-a-fan) likes to spins for the Labour Parties throughout the OECS when they get into hot water. Let’s how he can extricate Gaston and family from this tangled web.
If justice were truly blind, many of the present heads of government n the Caribbean, instead of occupying the Office of Prime Minister, would be in the pen peeping through iron bars.
How could one confiscate a multimillion dollar yacht, sell it, when it is owned by someone else?
The Antigua government is cash trapped. They are overwhelmed with debts. They saw the seizure and selling of this luxurious boat as easy money to reduce their debt burden. Gaston said as much, that the proceeds from the sale of the Alfa Nero were primarily to pay the country’s creditors.
Right thinking and all honest people would like the original owner of the Alfa Nero to get back her priced possession. Why? It belongs to her.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King Jr.