London: Five months after denying Incorrect and hurtful” reports of an insminent spilt, Russia’s richest man, billionaire Roman Abrainovich, has confirmed his 16-year marriage to wife Irma is over.In what may be one of the most costly divorces in history the pair issued a statement saying Abramovich’s corporate interests—which include Britain’s Chelsea Football Club—would not however be affected.
“Mr and Mrs Abramovich have divorced in Russia on a consensual basis and have agreed terms in respect of arrangements for their (five) children and a fmancial settlement,” the statement said, without giving any details. The divorce follows newspaper reports that Abramovich has been seen with a young Russian model, Dana Zhukova.British newspapers, many of which ran the story on their front pages, said Irina Abramovich could get as much as half of her husband’s estimated $18.7 billion fortune and said it was the biggest divorce settlement in the world.Experts on divorce law said a 50/50 split of wealth accrued during the marriage would be normal procedure inRussia. “Russian divorce law is pretty straightforward. You must equally split all property and assets
which have been amassed since you have been married,” said a lawyer at a major Western legal firm in MoscowAbramovich, an orphan, split from his first wife, Olga, in 1990 and married Irma in 1991. The 40-year-old, who built up his fortune mostly from oil and aluminum businesses during the chaos that followed the fall of the Soviet Union, has become the poster boy for Russia’s oligarchs, known for savvy business deals and sumptuous living. AGENCIES
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