Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has taken on a new international legal role after being appointed by Russia as its arbitrator in an funding treaty dispute involving Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank, in keeping with a report by International Arbitration Overview.
The dispute is being heard by a three-member tribunal constituted underneath the 1998 bilateral funding treaty between Russia and Ukraine. Costa Rican arbitrator and former commerce minister Dyalá Jiménez will function the tribunal’s president, whereas Greek arbitrator and Nationwide College of Singapore professor Stavros Brekoulakis has been appointed by Oschadbank.
What’s the Oschadbank arbitration dispute?
Oschadbank has introduced the funding declare over property and enterprise operations within the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia areas.
The Ukrainian financial institution says it suffered losses to these property following Russia’s army actions within the areas, significantly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The declare is known to be price a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars}.
In response to International Arbitration Overview, Oschadbank initiated the arbitration after a discover of dispute despatched to Russia in July 2025 allegedly obtained no response.
The proceedings are being carried out underneath the 1998 bilateral funding treaty between the 2 international locations, which gives a authorized framework for disputes involving investments made by nationals and firms of the respective states.
Who’re the arbitrators within the Russia-Ukraine case?
The three-member tribunal contains arbitrators appointed by the events, together with a collectively chosen president.
Jiménez, a Costa Rican arbitrator and former commerce minister, was chosen by each Russia and Oschadbank to preside over the tribunal.
Brekoulakis, a Greek arbitrator and professor on the Nationwide College of Singapore, was appointed by Oschadbank.
Russia chosen Justice Chandrachud as its nominee.
Justice Chandrachud had earlier declined Russia’s approaches
The newest appointment is notable as a result of Justice Chandrachud had beforehand declined approaches from Russia to behave as its arbitrator in two different funding treaty disputes, in keeping with reviews.
These instances concerned German vitality firm Wintershall Dea and Ukrainian vitality firm Ukrenergo.
In response to International Arbitration Overview, the approaches had been made on the identical day that the Everlasting Courtroom of Arbitration designated Chandrachud because the appointing authority within the Wintershall proceedings.
Ex-CJI DY Chandrachud subsequently stepped down from that function after disclosing the communications he had obtained from Russia.
His appointment within the Oschadbank proceedings subsequently comes after he had beforehand been approached for roles linked to different treaty claims involving Russia.
Who represents Oschadbank and Russia?
Oschadbank is represented by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan companions Epaminontas Triantafilou and Alex Gerbi. Its authorized crew additionally consists of Asters companions Oleksiy Didkovskiy, Andrii Pozhidayev and Oksana Legka.
Russia’s authorized crew contains Pinna Goldberg associate Andrea Pinna, counsel Pratyush Panjwani and senior affiliate Dimitrios Papageorgiou.
The tribunal will now think about Oschadbank’s funding claims regarding its property and operations within the 4 Ukrainian areas.
The arbitration types a part of a wider physique of funding disputes arising from the Russia-Ukraine battle, with Ukrainian corporations and traders pursuing claims regarding property affected by Russia’s actions.
