A legal battle over the billion-dollar fortune of deceased Georgian oligarch Kakha Bendukidze has reached the High Court in London. Anastasia Goncharova, 24, claims she is his secret daughter and is seeking a share of his estate.
Bendukidze died at the InterContinental hotel in London last year after heart surgery. His widow, Natalia Zolotova, opposes Goncharova's claim, stating she was unaware her husband had a child. Goncharova wants DNA samples from Bendukidze's corpse, held by a London coroner, to prove her parentage.
The case involves legal proceedings in the UK, Russia, and Georgia, where Bendukidze had significant assets. Goncharova's lawyer requested tissue samples be sent to Moscow for testing. Zolotova's representative argued she has a right to control the remains according to family wishes and religious beliefs.
Mrs Justice Thirlwall noted that a simple DNA test could resolve the dispute. The case was adjourned due to lack of time, with a decision expected at a later date.
