By: Staff Writer
June 4, 2024
A controversial Ukrainian born former Grenadian Ambassador to the Russian Federation wins court case against Grenadian government for unlawful dismissal.
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the High Court of Grenada delivered a judgement against the Government of Grenada, ruling in favor of Oleg Firer in a case of unlawful recall as Ambassador of Grenada.
Court documents indicate that Firer was removed prior to 2022 Grenada elections and was a decision of the former New National Party Administration, led by then Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell.
Firer was awarded XCD50,000 in damages for “breach of procedural fairness” arising from a decision of the New National Party administration to recall him as resident ambassador to the Russian Federation in May 2022 without informing him of “the specific allegations of impropriety against him and allowing him an opportunity to make representations prior to his recall”.
Glasgow, J ruled that Mr. Firer’s recall without being told of these allegations or being afforded the opportunity to be heard was unfair and unlawful in the circumstances of this particular case, on the basis that the recall was done without the required procedural fairness. Firer was also awarded XCD10,000 in costs.
Until the recent court judgement, Grenadians were not aware of the recall of Firer prior to the June 2022 elections. And are still in the dark on the circumstances of the recall. Apparently so was/is the Firer, resulting in damages being awarded to him on the basis of “procedural unfairness” – his recall as resident ambassador without him being informed of “the specific allegations of impropriety against him and allowing him an opportunity to make representations prior to his recall”.
Firer, no stranger to controversy in the tiny spice isle, has had his hand in a lot of interests in Grenada, to the nutmeg industry where it was found that he was trying to organize a monopoly with the son of former Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell.
Firer has an interesting business past dating back to his days being the chief executive officer of Net Element, a mobile payments firm. He also has links to questionable property dales in South Florida, where he was involved with land development scammers Victor and Natalie Wolf.
Firer also has fended off Russian spy allegations from US political hopefuls in something he has branded as “conspiracy theories.”
In April, 2022 court documents filed by Firer in a Florida’s 11th circuit federal court cite Everett Stern, a then candidate for the Us Senate for Pennsylvania, through his company, Tactical Rabbit, who Firer brands as “conspiracy theorists,” by having embarked on a smear campaign against Firer and intended to “defame” his name and “destroy” his personal and professional life by labelling him as a Russian spy.
It is unclear as to how deep the Russian spy allegations have gone and having this been the reason for his unlawful dismissal, but Firer was indeed denied entry into Grenada in February, 2023 and subsequently deported.