Overview
- On October 6, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Sberbank’s appeal, leaving intact a February 2025 appellate decision against the bank.
- The lawsuit, filed in 2019 by relatives of 18-year-old U.S. citizen Quinn Schansman, alleges Sberbank used U.S. banking channels to route donations to the pro-Russian DNR and seeks damages under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
- Lower courts rejected Sberbank’s claim to sovereign immunity, allowing the plaintiffs to pursue their terrorism-financing claims in U.S. courts.
- Sberbank maintains it is entitled to protection under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and disputes that the alleged transactions constitute commercial activity.
- International findings provide context, including the JIT conclusion that MH17 was downed by a Buk system brought from Russia, Dutch convictions in absentia in 2022, and ICAO’s 2025 recognition of Russia’s responsibility.