Lawyers for the ex-king of Malaysia confirmed he has divorced his glamorous Russian beauty queen bride Oksana Veovodina – and that she was told about the breakup four weeks ago.
Despite this, 27-year-old Oksana Voevodina is quoted saying that this is a ‘provocation’ and she has ‘never divorced’ the former monarch.
The latest twist follows the former reality show star – also known as Rihana Oxana Gorbatenko – this week posting a romantic video showing her and former king Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V together and seemingly happy.
Yet it was not clear when the video had been made.
But the Singapore lawyer reported to be acting for the sultan has now confirmed the divorce last month in accordance with Syariah laws.
Lawyers for the ex-king of Malaysia confirmed he has divorced his glamorous Russian beauty queen bride Oksana Veovodina – and that she was told about the breakup four weeks ago
Despite this, 27-year-old Oksana Voevodina is quoted saying that this is a ‘provocation’ and she has ‘never divorced’ the former monarch. Pictured: Oksana in her Miss Moscow days in 2015 (left) and in a recent social media post covered in diamond jewels (right)
Lawyer Mr Koh Tien Hua said: ‘Ms Rihana was informed of the irrevocable divorce on 22 June 2019 through her lawyers Alexander Dobrovinsky & Partners of Russia and a copy of the divorce certificate was given to her.’
The Kelantan Syariah Court had given its permission for the divorce and it issued the divorce certificate finalising it on July 1, he stated.
The traditional Islamic divorce involved the three Talaqs in the presence of two competent Muslim witnesses, reported The Straits Times today.
This is said to be the ‘most severe’ type of divorce under Islamic law.
It came soon after she gave birth to the sultan’s only male heir on 21 May.
However, the Russian bride – who wed the 50 year old ex-king after a whirlwind romance last year – has spoken to deny the divorce according to Malaysian news portal portal Malaysiakini.
Oksana Veovodina, the Russian beauty queen who married a Malaysian sultan, released a video of the pair talking about their marriage amid reports that they have gotten divorced
In the video, which is in English with Russian subtitles, Oksana gushes about the depths of her love for Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan, saying she wants to be ‘the last person in his life’
Early in the New Year, Sultan Muhammad V (pictured) abdicated, a shock move that was linked by some reports to his controversial marriage
‘I was in Russia with my child. We were not in Singapore in June for any divorce proceedings.’
She added: ‘This is an act of provocation, we have never been divorced.’
MailOnline was unable to authenticate the quotes purporting to be from the ex-Miss Moscow.
Her mother Lyudmila Gorbatenko, 48, declined to comment on the divorce reports.
During the week her friends in Moscow appeared to confirm the divorce.
But another Moscow lawyer acting for Oksana, ex-senator Evgeny Tarlo, claimed: ‘There are a considerable number of people who envy their marriage.
The former Miss Moscow is said to have been forced out by Malaysian top brass unhappy with Sultan Muhammad V’s bride
‘They have a brilliant relationship, a beautiful wedding and a beautiful baby. ‘
Earlier he had strongly denied there had been a divorce, insisting he had seen no such paperwork.
‘Oksana married for love and is still married,’ he said.
‘Divorce is just talk from a yellowish (scandalous) media. We have no official papers. We do not know anything.’
The statement from the ex-king’s lawyer is all the more surprising since on Friday the Syriah Court in Singapore said it had no records of divorce filed by the couple.
It was not previously known that celebrity lawyer Alexander Dobrovinsky was acting for Oksana.
In the video she posted last week, she said: ‘I will take care of him, and of course, I want to be the last person in his life, and I want to live with him until the end of my life.’
The couple were married on June 7 last year when Sultan Muhammad V was the Malaysian King.
The Islamic nuptials were not reported.
A ceremony then followed in Moscow in November which leaked out to the media.
Then followed lurid reports about the beauty queen’s past, including an episode when she took part in a reality show under an assumed name.
In this Russian show, she was filmed having sex in a swimming pool with a male contestant, according to reports.
A collection of raunchy modelling pictures also appeared, evidently adding to discontent in conservative Malaysia over the match.
In January, the king took the shock decision to abdicate his throne.
This week lawyer Tarlo said Oksana was splitting her time between a country house near Moscow and a luxury apartment in the city.
Her expenses were being maid by the former king, as she cares for the couple’s son, he said.
Last week the provincial government in Kelantan denied any knowledge of the sultan’s divorce.
The pair wed at an alcohol-free ceremony at an elite concert hall in the upscale Moscow suburb of Barvikha on November 22 last year after she had converted to Islam
Oksana posted this picture of her pushing her son Leo in his pram in a Malaysian palace last month
This was despite publication of a copy of the ‘divorce certificate’.
Oksana last posted a picture with her husband on 6 July – and is also seen pushing a pram with her baby.
She also gave apparently warm details – not previously revealed – of their meeting.
But she made one posting on 9 June that could be seen as ambiguous – or even highly critical – of the ex-king.
Pictured: Miss Moscow 2015, Oksana Voevodina
She wrote: ‘The man who really loves his woman will do everything for his beloved one.
‘Love and taking care is the base for strong and healthy relationship.
‘A good husband will always support and be nice with his wife.
‘Always is interested how does she feel and takes care of her, if she is tired.
‘Always 100% keeps his promises.
‘Always takes responsibility for the family and doesn’t put this responsibility on his wife’s shoulders.
‘During pregnancy he would give his wife increased attention, gifts and care.
‘Relationships are based on how can people support and understand each other.
‘Family is the result of the work of two people who can give love gratuitously.’
Mr Koh works for Eversheds Harry Elias LLP.
He was reported to have acted with another lawyer lawyer Yoon Min Joo.