Boris Berezovsky

Boris Berezovsky has succeeded in his libel complaint in relation to allegations published in the Guardian newspaper that he was the “wanted defrauder of the Russian region of Samara”. Mr Berezovsky settled on terms including an apology, a statement in open court and the payment of £20,000 in damages. Mr Berezovsky will donate the libel damages to the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund, which provides support to victims of the 7 July 2005 attacks.

Press Release

Boris Berezovsky and Guardian Newspaper

6 March 2006

Boris Berezovsky has accepted £20,000 damages and payment of his legal costs in settlement of his libel claim against the Guardian newspaper. At a High Court hearing on 21 December 2005 the newspaper had apologised to Mr Berezovsky for publishing an article in which he was falsely described as the “wanted defrauder of the Russian region of Samara”.

Mr Berezovsky said today that the importance of the case to him was to demonstrate publicly that the accusations of fraud made against him were false, as even the Russian courts have ruled.

Mr Berezovsky has announced that the libel damages will be paid to the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund, which provides support to victims of the 7 July 2005 attacks.

The Guardian has declined a request that it publish a report of the financial terms of settlement; this is an issue which Mr Berezovsky will refer to the Press Complaints Commission for its consideration.

Enquiries to Andrew Stephenson, Carter-Ruck, Tel: 020 7353 5005

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