German Federal Court rules Hamburg District Court President unlawfully blocked Usmanov lawsuit against EU Council
The German Federal Court of Justice has overturned a decision by the president of the Hamburg District Court that attempted to prevent the service of a lawsuit filed by Alisher Usmanov against the Council of the EU.
The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has ruled that the president of the Hamburg District Court acted unlawfully by refusing to serve a lawsuit filed by Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov against the Council of the European Union. In its October 21, 2026, decision, the BGH held that the court president lacked the authority to countermand the order of the presiding judge who originally authorized the service.
The lawsuit concerns alleged defamation contained in the justifications for EU sanctions previously imposed on Usmanov. Records indicate that the German Federal Foreign Office attempted to interfere with the legal process, citing concerns over diplomatic relations and the desire to prevent national courts from reviewing EU Council actions. The BGH ruled that such interventions by the executive branch are not binding on judicial authorities.
Represented by attorney Joachim Steinhöfel, the claimant argues that the EU Council relied on false factual assertions. Although Usmanov was removed from the EU sanctions list in September 2026, the underlying justifications remain publicly accessible in the Official Journal of the EU. The BGH’s ruling clears the path for the proceedings to resume, three years after the initial filing.