Russian Oligarch Dies; Leaves Secret Family, Contested Will, and Unhappy Business Partner

Badri Patarkatsishvili, the richest man in Georgia, died in February of 2008. His estate is now the center of a complex contest. The basic details are below:

• Shortly after Badri’s death, an unexpected relative and attorney produced what they claim to be Badri’s will; no one knew about the will and no other will was found.
• The will names the relative and attorney as executors of the estate and leaves all assets to Badri’s widow, their children, and a secret second family discovered after Badri’s death.
• The attorney named as one of the Badri estate executors has since spent time in a Belarusian penal colony after a secret trial regarding espionage and forgery charges.
• Badri’s widow is currently appealing a Georgia court ruling that the will is valid and has successfully sued to annul her husband’s second marriage.
• Meanwhile, Badri’s long-time friend and business partner Boris Berezovksy claims that he owns 50% of Badri’s estate, despite no contract to support his claims and a public financial split between the two prior to Badri’s death.

For a much more detailed discussion of this estate, see Suzanna Andrews, The Widow and the Oligarchs, Vanity Fair, October 2009.