The wife of Russian oil magnate Mikhail Kroupeev has urged the High Court in London to jail her husband for contempt of court, accusing him of defying multiple court orders and concealing vast wealth during their high-stakes divorce proceedings.
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Elena Kroupeeva, who was married to Kroupeev for 36 years, alleges that the non-executive chairman of energy firm Gulfsands Petroleum has “brazenly” failed to meet financial obligations following the collapse of their marriage. She discovered in 2023 that Kroupeev had been secretly maintaining a second family in Russia for nearly two decades — a revelation that led to the breakdown of their union.
At the heart of the bitter legal battle is Kroupeev’s alleged refusal to pay more than £800,000, including £195,000 in legal fees previously ordered by the court. His assets are currently subject to a £38 million freezing order as part of the ongoing financial settlement.
On Wednesday, Mr Justice Harrison found Kroupeev in contempt of court for deliberately ignoring judicial directives, including the failure to hand over a collection of luxury watches and pay his wife’s legal costs.
“His neglect or refusal is wilful,” the judge concluded, rejecting attempts by Kroupeev’s lawyer, Michael Glaser KC, to dismiss the relevance of the accusations or delay proceedings. Sentencing has been adjourned until next week, with the judge ordering Kroupeev to appear in person, despite currently residing in Cyprus.
According to court filings, Elena Kroupeeva claims her estranged husband has used offshore tax havens in Guernsey and the Seychelles to hide portions of his wealth. She believes the total family fortune may reach into the hundreds of millions of pounds, generated through lucrative energy deals in Russia, Syria, and Kazakhstan.
Kroupeev’s extensive business interests include Gulfsands Petroleum, which holds contracts for oil exports from Syria; Jupiter Energy, active in Kazakhstan; and Waterford Finance, which specializes in global energy projects.
Despite the wealth, Kroupeev has allegedly offered his wife a modest £300,000 settlement and the transfer of just two properties — a proposal her lawyers have called “an insult.”
“He has approached her claim as if they are playing a game — a game in which he clearly intends to cheat,” said Justin Warshaw KC, representing Ms Kroupeeva.
Court documents paint a vivid picture of the couple’s lifestyle. They reportedly lived in a £15 million mansion in St John’s Wood, London, and own properties in Portugal, Turkey, and Russia, with a real estate portfolio valued at £22.5 million.
The couple’s two children, now aged 20 and 28, were educated at elite London private schools. In a twist, the child from Kroupeev’s alleged secret relationship in Russia was also later enrolled in the same school.
Their holidays were equally extravagant, often involving private jets to destinations like South Africa, Mauritius, Argentina, Iceland, and the Caribbean island of Mustique, with one Christmas trip costing $200,000.
“A large motivation for travelling privately would be to ensure that the family dogs could go on holiday,” her legal team noted, adding that return flights to their Portugal home alone could cost £22,000.
While Elena Kroupeeva appeared in court on Wednesday, her husband joined remotely via video link. The hearing continues next week as the court prepares to sentence Kroupeev for contempt.
“This case reveals a concerning pattern of evasion, contempt for judicial authority, and refusal to meet responsibilities,” Warshaw stated. “He clearly considers himself to be above the law of England and Wales.”
The proceedings could become one of the most expensive and contentious divorce cases in British legal history.
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