A dispute between the three original founders of Norebo Group, Russia's largest cod supplier, is moving through the UK courts, and at least one of the two executives being accused in the lawsuit will be appearing in a hearing to defend against the claims.

A spokesman representing Tugushev and his attorneys told IntraFish Wednesday that Alexander Tugushev, who along with Vitaly Orlov and Magnus Roth founded the company under the name Ocean Trawlers, officially summoned Roth to appear in court in the United Kingdom.

So far, the spokesman said, Roth has not responded to the summons, but has until Oct. 30 to either defend himself against the claim or challenge the UK courts' jurisdiction.

The spokesman said a hearing on the allegations against Orlov will be heard in November.

Conspiracy at work?

Tugushev’s lawyers said in court documents earlier in the year “has been the victim of a complex and sophisticated conspiracy” by Orlov and another co-founder of the business to deny his investment in the company, according to Bloomberg.

Orlov’s lawyers said the judge should be aware that Tugushev had been convicted of fraud.

Tugushev was sentenced to six years in prison for fraud in Russia in 2004. Richard Slade, a lawyer for Tugushev, said in court the case had been politically motivated. Tugushev re-joined Norebo after serving his prison sentence.

Tugushev was later fired because he was “complicating” the company’s growth, Orlov said in 2017.

A London judge granted an order freezing $350 million (€302 million) of Orlov’s assets on July 23. Orlov didn’t seek to overturn the injunction, but his lawyers asked that some information about the assets only be given to Tugushev’s lawyers and not Tugushev himself.

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