MOSCOW, July 19 (RAPSI) - A British court is trying to evaluate whether the combined assets of the late Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky can cover his debts, Financial Times reports on Friday.
The 67-year-old businessman was found by his bodyguard in the bathroom of his house on Mill Lane, Ascot, Berkshire, on March 23. The results of a post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be consistent with hanging.
Before his demise Berezovsky was sued by his former girlfriend Yelena Gorbunova and Russian air carrier Aeroflot. Gorbunova filed a 5 mln pounds claim, while the Aeroflot stake remains unknown.
In his will drafted nine days prior to his death, Berezovsky listed five potential executors, none of whom have agreed to take responsibility for the estate, including: two attorneys, old friend Yuli Dubov, daughter Ekaterina Berezovskaya, and Yelena Gorbunova. International accounting firm Grant Thornton has been court-appointed to deal with the estate in the meantime, until an executor is appointed.
Grant Thornton representatives stated that the late tycoons assets cannot cover his debt before Gorbunova. Her lawyers reject that evaluation.
Russian national airline Aeroflot told RAPSI two days prior to the discovery of Berezovsky’s body that it had appealed a recent judgment by the High Court refusing to enforce a Russian court’s fraud conviction against the oligarch.