Next move in Russian billionaire’s sanction saga

Lawyers for Foreign Minister Penny Wong have agreed to hand over extra evidence to Russian billionaire Alexander Abramov after he was named in a sanction targeting dozens of oligarchs.

The decision was made in a brief interlocutory hearing at the Federal Court in Melbourne on Friday morning.

Australia’s sanction was issued in April and banned 67 Russian oligarchs, politicians and military officials from making transactions with or visiting Australia.

It came in response to what former foreign Minister Marise Payne called Vladimir Putin’s “illegal war” against Ukraine.

Ms Payne signed the instrument imposing the sanctions in April, a month before Labor formed government and Ms Wong took over the role.

Mr Abramov is suing Ms Wong and wants the sanction removed. He legal team previously argued that he had suffered severe reputational harm from the ruling and the legal consequences had led to continued financial losses.

He lives in Switzerland and is worth more than $6bn, amassed after becoming head of what was once the largest steel and iron empire in Russia.

It’s not clear whether Mr Abramov has ever had business interests in Australia, but he owns a $50m luxury retreat, Helena Bay Lodge, on New Zealand’s North Island.

The New Zealand government considered implementing similar sanctions against Russians earlier this year.

Russia’s government hit back at Australia’s sanctions in June and imposed restrictions on 121 Australians, including prominent journalists and government officials.