Enforcing A Foreign Arbitration Award Against A Foreign Party Under RICO

The case stems from interesting facts.  Vitaly Smagin, a Russian citizen, filed suit against Ashot Yegiazaryan, another Russian who fled to California more than a decade ago, among other defendants.  The lawsuit alleged that Ashot and others defrauded Smagin in Russia.  In 2010, Russian authorities criminally indicted Ashot and his brother Artem Yegiazaryan for the alleged fraud.  Smagin also commenced a civil arbitration proceeding against Ashot in London, eventually securing a US $84 million arbitration award against Ashot.