MOSCOW, November 20 (RAPSI) – A judge of a court in Washington D.C. satisfied a petition of the former Yukos shareholders, who are participating in a trial against Russia, and recused herself, RIA Novosti reported on Friday.

The case will be transferred from Amy Berman Jackson of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to another judge who is to be appointed in the future.

The plaintiffs who are representing former Yukos shareholders postulated that judge Berman has a conflict of interest in this case because of her long-term relationship with Carolyn Lamm, a lawyer of who is representing Russian interests.

Former Yukos shareholders seek to recover from Russia $50 bln awarded to them in 2014 by the Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Lawsuits against Russia were filed within several different countries.

Last June, France and Belgium seized property that, as they believe, belongs to Russia, pursuant to a ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in a lawsuit by former Yukos shareholders. According to the ruling, Russia must pay $50 billion. Russian officials – specifically, Minister for Economic Development Alexei Ulyukayev and Presidential Aide Andrei Belousov – said that Russia will appeal the ruling.