Death threats, lawsuits and billions at stake: The battle over Russian oil transportation

A former Deutsche Bank executive has filed a lawsuit against oil traders from the Coral network, linked to Moscow, after a deal to sell Russian diesel in Brazil went wrong. A UAE judge froze over $700 million of the defendants' assets. Suglaev claims he received death threats.

A former Deutsche Bank executive, Igor Suglaev, has filed a lawsuit against sanctioned oil traders known as the Coral network, alleging they destroyed his business. The network, led by Atibar Ayub and Tahir Garayev, signed a secret agreement with Rosneft to transfer Russian oil exports to its control after the invasion of Ukraine. Suglaev claims he collaborated with the network in early 2024, but relations soured after a tanker carrying diesel worth tens of millions of dollars failed to unload its cargo in Brazil. A UAE judge issued an order freezing over $700 million in proceeds from Russian oil sales belonging to his rivals. Suglaev says he received threats he interpreted as death threats. The article reveals the complex mechanisms that allow Russian oil to flow while bypassing Western sanctions.