Prime Minister Gaston Browne, members of his family, and the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC) have secured a significant legal victory in the United States Court of Appeals in the ongoing Alfa Nero-related litigation.

According to prominent international attorney Paul Reichler, the appellate court has upheld an earlier ruling by the District Court, rejecting an application by Russian national Yulia Guryeva for discovery and quashing subpoenas issued to both The Clearing House and the US Federal Reserve.

The ruling effectively blocks Guryeva’s legal team from accessing key financial records and represents a decisive setback in her efforts to pursue the matter through US courts.

Reichler confirmed that all documents previously obtained by Guryeva’s attorneys under those subpoenas must now be destroyed, with formal certification required to confirm compliance.

Alfa Nero

He added that the legal team representing Antigua and Barbuda will now explore the possibility of recovering costs incurred during the appellate process.

While Guryeva retains the option of seeking to take the matter to the US Supreme Court, Reichler described the chances of such an appeal being accepted as extremely remote.

“There is no appeal as of right to the Supreme Court. It is entirely within the court’s discretion, and the likelihood of this case being taken up is less than one in a thousand,” he said, noting that her attorneys are not expected to pursue that route.

When contacted by Antigua.news, Prime Minister Browne welcomed the outcome and indicated that further legal action is underway.

“As you are aware, I have countersued Martin De Luca and his law firm. The law firm Boies Schiller was served, but Martin has gone into hiding,” Browne said.

The Prime Minister added that he is seeking damages totaling US$10 million in the countersuit.

The latest ruling marks another major development in the high-profile international legal dispute, which has drawn significant attention both locally and abroad.

How the Alfa Nero Saga Unfolded

The 267-foot superyacht Alfa Nero first entered Falmouth Harbour in February 2022, where it remained idle for more than a year amid international sanctions tied to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

With the vessel left unattended and costs mounting, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda eventually deemed it a hazard. Authorities then initiated steps to take control of the yacht under the Port Authority Act.

By March 2023, officials signaled their intention to sell the vessel, pointing to the growing financial burden associated with its upkeep and security. However, the process was delayed by a series of legal disputes over ownership.

Despite the challenges, the yacht was ultimately auctioned in June 2023 and purchased by U.S. billionaire Eric Schmidt for US$67.6 million.

Since the sale, the matter has remained entangled in legal battles across jurisdictions. Several claimants — including the daughter of the yacht’s alleged owner — have challenged both the seizure and the auction, keeping the issue active in courts in Antigua and the United States.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has maintained that the government’s actions were lawful and necessary, arguing that the decision to seize and sell the vessel was taken in the country’s best interest.