Ministry of Justice in Kazakhstan: the Statis Admit Defeat in Washington Proceedings, Withdraw Improper Attempt to Seize Kazakhstan’s Diplomatic Property

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On October 28, 2021, Moldovan oligarchs Anatoli and Gabriel Stati requested permission from a Washington D.C. federal court to withdraw their “emergency” motions to seize the Republic of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic property in the U.S. capital.

The Statis filed their “emergency” motions in July 2021. Therein, they falsely claimed that a Kazakhstan diplomatic residence in Washington DC was being used as commercial office space.

In August 2021, Kazakhstan made detailed submissions to the court in which it proved that the Statis’ claims were false. Rather than attempt to respond to Kazakhstan’s proof, the Statis requested two extensions of time. The court granted the first request but denied the second, finding that the Statis had already had more than enough time and ordering them to file their response by October 29, 2021.

Now, the day before the deadline, the Statis have requested permission to withdraw their “emergency” motions rather than attempt to justify their false claims.

This conduct by the Statis – to make false assertions to a court and then withdraw their own motions rather than face a ruling – is part of their continued campaign to damage the reputation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Statis engaged in similar conduct in the prior proceedings in England. There, when the Republic of Kazakhstan proved that the Statis obtained their underlying arbitral award by fraud, the Statis responded by discontinuing their own proceedings rather than facing trial.

Vice-Minister of Justice, Mr. Almat Madaliyev, commented: “The Statis admission of defeat in the Washington proceedings confirms what Kazakhstan has said from the beginning – that the Statis’ improper attempt to seize Kazakhstan’s diplomatic property was based on lies. This has become predictable behaviour from the Statis as part of their disinformation campaign, which uses both false statements in court and misleading media reports. We are pleased that justice has prevailed.”

*****