Britain's biggest divorce deal: oligarch's wife to get 'hundreds of millions'

Amicable: Galina Besharova agreed record deal with Boris Berezovsky

Britain's biggest divorce settlement worth "hundreds of millions of pounds" was agreed today in the High Court.

The ex-wife of billionaire Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky made legal history with the payout.
Mr Berezovsky, 64, who lives in Wentworth, Surrey, agreed to pay 52-year-old Galina after admitting unreasonable behaviour. He said in court papers he had no intention of defending the petition and, asked if he objected to paying, he replied: "No, subject to assessment."

The previous British divorce record was set when insurance broker John Charman was ordered to give former wife Beverley £48 million in 2006.

Mr Berezovsky was granted asylum in the UK in September 2003 after fleeing Russia. He won a £150,000 libel payout after being wrongly linked to the London murder of his friend Alexander Litvinenko, the poisoned Russian dissident, in November 2006.

Mr Berezovsky's ex-wife, who now uses her maiden name Besharova, lives in a penthouse overlooking Kensington Palace Gardens. She was granted an undefended divorce last July.

Today Richard Todd, QC, told the judge the couple "had worked very hard to reach an amicable settlement" of their financial dispute.

Mrs Justice Eleanor King said: "It does not matter whether the awards are thousands of pounds or hundreds of millions of pounds. If the husband and wife can reach agreement they can both live with, it bodes much better for their future welfare and for the children of the family and to continue working for the benefit of them all.

"It is completely appropriate for me to approve this order and I am very happy to do so. My congratulations to all concerned."

Neither of the couple were in court for the brief hearing. Mr Berezovsky's representative Michael Cotlick said outside court: "We have no comment to make. It is all over. That is the most important thing."

Ms Besharova was granted a divorce in a 45-second hearing in July last year, after 18 years of marriage.

District Judge Penny Cushing granted her a decree nisi on the grounds that the marriage had "irretrievably broken down " and that she found it "intolerable" to live with her husband because of his unreasonable behaviour.

The couple met in Moscow in 1981 when he was a struggling 34-year-old mathematician earning about £60 a month. They married 10 years later.
It was his second marriage and they have two children Artem, now 21, and Anastasia, now 18.

His first marriage was to Nina Vasilievna, by whom he has two daughters - Katya and Lisa.
The couple have lived apart for much of their marriage and he now shares his home with Elena Gorbunova, 42, who has also borne him two children.

Ms Besharova said in court documents that while his unreasonable behaviour was not affecting her health it was continuing.

He ex-husband said in the court papers that, although domiciled in the Russian Federation, he was habitually resident in England.

Mr Berezovsky was represented by top divorce lawyer Martin Pointer, QC. His ex-wife has claimed she supported him throughout his astronomical rise in business and politics.

He became one of the first Russian oligarchs under President Boris Yeltsin, acquiring large stakes in oil and media companies as well as the state airline Aeroflot. He entered Russia's parliament and backed Vladimir Putin's presidential campaign in 2000.

But life soured for the Berezovskys when they fell out with Mr Putin and they fled to London.
He was sentenced, in absentia, to six years in prison for embezzlement in 2007 and was ordered to repay the £5.5 billion that Russia alleged he stole from Aeroflot.

Mr Berezovsky, who has been highly critical of the Kremlin, claims the charges against him were all politically motivated. He was granted political asylum in Britain in 2003.

Other multi-million pound payouts

John and Beverley Charman

The previous record for a British divorce settlement. Insurance broker John Charman was ordered to hand over £48 million to his wife of more than 20 years, Beverley, in August 2006. The judge rejected his argument that she was a "reticent" housewife.

Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

The Beatles legend paid his ex-wife £24.3 million in March 2008, less than a fifth of the £125 million she had sought from their four-year marriage.

Rupert and Anna Murdoch

Believed to be the most expensive divorce in history. After 32 years of marriage Mr Murdoch and his first wife split amicably in 1998 when he paid out £1.04 billion.

Roman and Irina Abramovich

The Chelsea owner's divorce from his first wife was finalised in the Moscow courts. She is said to have settled for £155 million, which included a yacht, a private plane and homes in London and Russia.

Michael and Juanita Jordan

The US basketball player paid his ex-wife £103 million after their 18-year marriage ended.

Stephen Spielberg and Amy Irving

In 1989, the film director handed £61 million to his former wife.

Vivian Imerman and Lisa Tchenguiz

The food and drinks magnate faces a huge divorce payout after his estranged wife demanded a £100 million share of his fortune.

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