US Court of Appeals Rules in Favour of PM Gaston Browne in Case Linked to Alfa Nero

The United States Court of Appeals has ruled in favour of Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne and other Antiguan and Barbudan individuals and entities, in a request for financial disclosure brought by Russian citizen, Yulia Guryeva Motlokhov.

Motlokhov had claimed ownership of the Alfa Nero super yacht and had bristled over the Antigua and Barbuda Government’s sale of the vessel in 2024.

The US Appellate Court has affirmed the order of the District Court, rejecting Guryeva-Motlokhov’s application for discovery and quashing the subpoenas for documents that her attorneys had served on the Clearing House and Federal Reserve in the US.

The ruling means all documents received by Guryeva’s attorneys linked to this subpoena must be destroyed and supporting evidence provided that this has been done.

Attorneys for the Prime Minister are exploring recovering at least some of the legal costs incurred in the appellate process.

Guryeva could seek to have the matter brought to the US Supreme Court, but legal observers say this may be unlikely, especially since there is no right of appeal to that Court.

This is being seen as another major legal victory for Prime Minister Browne and other Antiguan officials. The Prime Minister has consistently asserted that the Government’s actions in the sale of the vessel were transparent.

Prime Minister Browne has since counter-sued US attorney Martin De Luca and his law firm, Boies Schiller, for defamation over statements made in the course of the disclosure case. The firm has been served with the claim, but efforts are continuing to locate De Luca to serve him with the defamation claim.

The Prime Minister is seeking US$10 million in damages.