Huge payout in Russian tycoon Berezovsky's divorce

[July 24, 2010]  LONDON (AP) -- Self-exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky said Friday that a London court had granted a preliminary divorce decree from his second wife.

The billionaire declined to comment on what the settlement might be. But the British newspaper, The Guardian, said it could be as much as 100 million pounds ($154 million.)

Berezovsky laughed off the reported figure when contacted by The Associated Press.

"Other people may be interested in the financial details, but (the court case) is at a stage where the financial side is not mentioned," he said.

It was up to the court to decide the payout for Galina Besharova, his wife of 18 years, he added.

A Family Court judge in London granted Besharova the "decree nisi," or an initial divorce decree Thursday. After six weeks, the couple will probably be granted a decree absolute and the divorce will become final.

Berezovsky does not intend to contest the divorce request.

Forbes magazine estimated that the former Kremlin insider is worth $1.1 billion in a 2007 list of the world's richest people. A powerful member of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin's circle, Berezovsky fled to Britain in 2001 after Vladimir Putin tightened his grip on power.

[Associated Press]

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