Rinat Akhmetov, a Ukrainian energy tycoon ranked by Forbes magazine as the world’s 214th richest billionaire, is no stranger to England’s libel courts. He has launched successful actions in London over the past year against Kyiv Post and Obozrevatel, two Ukrainian internet journals.

Laura Tyler, his lawyer, says Mr Akhmetov went to England because he has a reputation and business links there, and because its court rulings are internationally acknowledged as “just and fair”.