The British-Russian businessman Andrey Yakunin, who in February was acquitted in the Court of Appeal of illegal drone flights on Svalbard, has been awarded 2.7 million in compensation from the state. The compensation is awarded after he was finally acquitted of the drone flight earlier this year. Asked for 4.5 million Andrey Yakunin and his lawyers dropped claims for compensation totaling NOK 4,580,548. Nord-Troms and Senja District Court does not fully support the claim, but has concluded that the public sector must pay slightly more than NOK 2.7 million to Yakunin in compensation. Among other things, the court has withdrawn claims for assistance from two English lawyers. The court believes the expense was not necessary for Yakunin’s defense. – The prosecution chose to make this case unnecessarily lengthy, which means that the court has now awarded Yakunin compensation for his own expenses of almost NOK 3 million, writes lawyer John Christian Elden to news. John Christian Elden and Jens Bernhard Herstad, The Yakunin case. Photo: Christian Kråkenes / CHRISTIAN KRAKENES He states that it is not unexpected that Yakunin does not receive as much compensation as he has requested. – It is a cross of thought that in the same period impoverished Russians were sentenced for similar circumstances, while Yakunin – who was able to engage the necessary expertise in his defense – was acquitted time and time again, comments lawyer John Christian Elden. More court rounds It was the summer of 2022 that Andrey Yakunin flew a drone during a sailing trip in Svalbard. This is the Yakunin case Photo: Pål Hansen / news British-Russian Andrey Yakunin was arrested in Hammerfest on 17 October 2022 for having flown a drone in Svalbard. The businessman was put in custody for 51 days. On 11 November 2022, Yakunin is charged with breaching the Sanctions Act. The sanctions regulations prohibit Russians from operating aircraft and drones in Norway. Yakunin acknowledged having flown the drone in Svalbard, but stated that he should be considered a British citizen and not Russian. Although the police found a Russian passport on board his boat “Firebird”. On 7 December 2022, Yakunin will be acquitted in Nord-Troms and Senja district court. The prosecuting authorities appealed the case further to the Court of Appeal. On 2 February 2023, the Hålogaland Court of Appeal also acquitted Yakunin. The prosecuting authorities are appealing the case further to the Supreme Court. On 30 June 2023, the Supreme Court annulled both the district court and the court of appeal’s acquittal of Yakunin. On 25 January 2024, a new trial started against Andrey Yakunin in Nord-Troms and Senja district court. On 14 February 2024, he was acquitted, again, in the district court. Yakunin is the son of a Russian businessman who is said to have ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In previous court rounds, both the District Court and the Court of Appeal have held that drones are not covered by the flight ban imposed on Russian citizens, and have therefore acquitted Yakunin. After Yakunin was acquitted in both the District Court and the Court of Appeal, the case was sent to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court quashed the acquittal of both the District Court and the Court of Appeal, and thus the case was sent back to the District Court. There, too, he was thus acquitted. According to the court, Yakunin could not have known that it was illegal for him to fly a drone in Svalbard. By then, Yakunin had spent more than 50 days in custody. Prosecutors showed this drone video at the trial of British-Russian man Andrey Yakunin. Yakunin is charged with illegal drone flying in Norway. In April, after the state prosecutor’s appeal was rejected by the Hålogaland Court of Appeal, Yakunin’s defense attorney John Christian Elden announced that there could be a compensation lawsuit. Elden states that Yakunin will now consider whether he should file a compensation claim against the Norwegian state for the financial losses as a result of the criminal prosecution. At the time, Yakunin himself told news that he would follow the lawyer’s advice. – Personally, this is a question of principle. The state must be held accountable for its actions. Published 15.10.2024, at 11.37 Updated 15.10.2024, at 11.43
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Yakunin receives millions in compensation – news Troms and Finnmark
