F1: Mazepin sues Australian Government

Sanctions imposed on Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, father of former Formula One driver Nikita Mazepin, in the wake of the Ukraine war have been challenged in an Australian court.

On Tuesday, Mazepin launched Federal Court proceedings against the minister for foreign affairs, claiming the sanctions were “legally unreasonable or seriously irrational”.

On April 7 this year, then-foreign minister Marise Payne issued sanctions against 67 high-profile businessmen and elites, including Mazepin who was the owner and CEO of Russian fertilizer company Uralchem.

According to the lawsuit, the Morrison government argued sanctions against Mazepin were necessary because he engaged in activities of “economic or strategic importance to Russia” due to his role as CEO.

The 54-year-old, who was born in Minsk, Belarus, claims he stepped down as head of Uralchem on March 11 before the sanctions were issued.

“There was no evidence or other material to justify the making of the decision, where the (Minister for Foreign Affairs) based the decision on the existence of a particular fact and that fact did not exist,” Mazepin wrote in documents filed with the court.