Russia appoints former CJI DY Chandrachud as arbitrator in Oschadbank dispute

Russia has appointed former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud as its arbitrator in an investment treaty dispute with the Ukrainian state-owned bank, Oschadbank. The proceedings are being conducted under a 1998 bilateral investment treaty between Ukraine and Russia.

Oschadbank is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, claiming losses to its assets and operations in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions following Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. The bank initiated the proceedings after a notice of dispute served to Russia in July 2025 reportedly went unanswered.

The three-member tribunal will be presided over by Costa Rican arbitrator and former trade minister Dyalá Jiménez, who was jointly selected by both parties. The third member, Stavros Brekoulakis, was appointed by Oschadbank. This appointment follows previous instances where Justice Chandrachud declined similar roles in treaty claims involving Wintershall Dea and Ukrenergo.