Isle of Man Court Rejects VTB Expert Report
The court deemed the filing an abuse of process in a dispute over a Bombardier jet.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Financial Crime
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The Isle of Man High Court has ruled a VTB Bank expert report inadmissible, characterizing the submission as an abuse of process. The ruling impacts an ongoing damages claim filed by Campino regarding a Bombardier jet currently stranded in Moscow.
Why it matters
The decision prevents VTB Bank from relitigating established findings of fact as they attempt to contest damages. This procedural hurdle clarifies the current scope of the legal battle over asset detention and maintenance liability.
Deemster Andrew Corlett dismissed VTB's claims regarding beneficial ownership in May 2026. While the expert report on maintenance was rejected, the court still allows VTB to submit evidence regarding the current valuation of the stranded aircraft.
The players
Dmitry Petrovich Mazurov
He is a businessman who is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence following a 2023 conviction for fraud.
VTB Bank
This is a major Russian financial institution that sought to hold assets under a worldwide freezing order.
Deemster Andrew Corlett
He serves as the judge in the Isle of Man High Court overseeing the proceedings related to the stranded aircraft.
Campino
This is the entity seeking damages related to the aircraft after the lifting of previous legal restrictions.
The details
VTB Bank originally obtained a worldwide freezing order in 2019, which became central to the legal conflict after Dmitry Petrovich Mazurov was convicted of fraud. The bank sought to introduce expert testimony arguing the jet should have been maintained during its detention in Russia, but the court blocked this attempt.
Timeline
VTB Bank obtained a worldwide freezing order in 2019.
Freezing order restrictions were lifted in February 2022.
A decree preventing asset removal was issued by President Putin in March 2022.
Dmitry Petrovich Mazurov began his 10-year prison sentence in 2023.
Deemster Corlett dismissed VTB's beneficial ownership claims in May 2026.
Legal Context
The court's decision marks a shift in the enforcement of the 2019 worldwide freezing order by restricting the evidence allowed in damage assessments. This ruling reflects broader trends in complex international litigation where courts must balance prior findings against new evidence.
This ruling sets a procedural precedent for how international financial institutions manage long-term asset disputes through the courts. It highlights the significant legal and logistical challenges involved in recovering or maintaining assets caught in cross-border geopolitical tensions.
The takeaway
The court's rejection of the expert report underscores the importance of adhering to prior findings of fact in complex litigation. Parties involved in long-running international disputes should note that attempting to relitigate settled issues can lead to claims being deemed an abuse of process.
Further reading
For more background on international legal battles, visit the Financial Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Isle of Man.
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