Bahrain’s plan to strengthen its position in advanced manufacturing has come under renewed attention following legal proceedings abroad that raise questions about the background of the Bahrain Titanium project. The scrutiny stems largely from filings in U.S. federal court that outline allegations connected to the global titanium trade and a group of companies said to be linked to Igor Raykhelson, the businessman publicly associated with the Bahrain venture and described in court documents as the ultimate beneficial owner of the Interlink group.
The foreign filings do not accuse the Bahrain Titanium project itself of wrongdoing, nor do they implicate any local partners. Even so, the disclosures highlight issues that frequently arise when major industrial projects rely on international sponsors whose business activities are the subject of ongoing litigation in other jurisdictions.
The U.S. proceedings were initiated under 28 U.S.C. §1782, a legal mechanism that allows parties involved in overseas disputes to obtain evidence through American courts. According to publicly filed materials, Russian prosecutors and related court submissions describe what they characterize as a kickback structure operating within the titanium supply chain. The filings allege that intermediary firms purchased titanium from AVISMA, one of the world’s largest producers of aerospace-grade titanium, at prices below market value and later resold the material at a markup. The resulting profit, according to the allegations, was diverted through affiliated intermediaries rather than remaining with the producer.
Entities linked to Interlink are identified in these filings as part of that intermediary network. The documents further suggest that proceeds generated through the alleged arrangement may have been used to support new ventures formed outside Russia, including the Bahrain Titanium project that has since been promoted as part of Bahrain’s industrial development strategy.
The filings describe Raykhelson as a central figure in this corporate structure. According to the U.S. record, he publicly presented himself as the owner and chairman of Interlink while separately telling authorities that his role was limited to that of a consultant. The filings characterize this discrepancy as evidence of an opaque ownership structure. They also note that Interlink entered into at least one contract with VSMPO, AVISMA’s parent company, during the period when Russian investigators allege misconduct occurred, and that Raykhelson was advising the company at the same time. Additional materials describe overlapping corporate addresses, shared personnel, and family involvement across Interlink-affiliated companies. Russian authorities have formally charged Raykhelson, and the U.S. filings advance the theory that funds connected to the alleged scheme later flowed into ventures abroad, including the Bahrain project.
Raykhelson has denied all allegations. In a sworn affidavit included in the U.S. proceedings, he states that Interlink never conducted business with AVISMA, disputes claims that he controlled the intermediary companies identified in the filings, and rejects any assertion that price manipulation took place. His response stands in contrast to the allegations set out in the court documents and remains a central issue in the dispute.
Beyond the U.S. proceedings, related legal actions in Switzerland indicate that disputes involving Interlink-affiliated entities are unfolding across multiple jurisdictions. Public submissions there describe ongoing efforts by counterparties to protect their claims as litigation continues. These matters do not involve the Bahrain Titanium project directly and do not affect its legal standing in the Kingdom. They do, however, underscore how disputes involving international corporate networks can expand geographically, introducing uncertainty that investors and financial institutions may consider when assessing associated projects.
Business analysts in the Gulf note that Bahrain’s Golden License program was designed to attract large-scale, high-value industrial investments supported by transparent ownership and reliable capital sources. Projects linked to sectors such as aerospace, defense, and advanced metals often face heightened scrutiny due to the strategic importance of their supply chains. In such cases, litigation involving foreign sponsors can become a factor in broader risk assessments, even when the local project itself remains unaffected.
Bahraini authorities have not commented publicly on the allegations raised in the foreign filings, and the Bahrain Titanium project continues to feature in national economic plans. The disputes abroad focus solely on the conduct of an overseas sponsor and related entities operating in other markets. Nevertheless, as the litigation develops, it may shape how regional and international stakeholders evaluate the project’s ownership and financing framework.
There is also the possibility that the foreign proceedings could later intersect with Bahrain more directly. Parties involved in the litigation have indicated that they may seek recognition or enforcement of foreign judgments or asset-related claims in jurisdictions where Interlink-affiliated interests exist. Any such step would not allege wrongdoing in Bahrain, but would reflect the typical progression of cross-border disputes as claimants seek to enforce rights established elsewhere. If pursued, such actions could place Bahrain’s courts in the position of assessing how foreign rulings interact with domestic corporate structures, drawing further attention to the venture.
As Bahrain and the wider Gulf continue to compete for advanced industrial investment, the situation highlights the importance of due diligence, transparency, and regulatory clarity. How these issues are navigated will influence perceptions of the region’s ability to host complex, capital-intensive projects and reinforce confidence among global partners looking to the Gulf as a long-term base for high-value manufacturing.
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