CL-2022-000456 - [2025] EWHC 1938 (Comm)

From EuroChem AG downwards, the position before March 2022 was slightly more complicated, in that MCC EuroChem owned 10% of the shares in EuroChem AG.

Furthermore, the directorships were not as shown in Appendix 1. In particular, Mr Melnichenko was a non-executive director of EuroChem AG until 9 March 2022.

There is evidence suggesting that Mr Melnichenko was actively interested and involved in the operation of the Firstline and Lineboro Trusts, and in EuroChem’s business, during the period prior to sanctions being imposed. His involvement in the business in this period, I discuss in Section XVIII below. As regards the Trusts, in June 2020, as Appointor of the Lineboro Trust, he appointed Mr Fokin as protector of the Lineboro Trust – for a specific purpose (the appointment of a new trustee) and only for three days.