In a dramatic turn in an ongoing international legal dispute, Amazon and its subsidiary Twitch have initiated legal proceedings in a California court against former professional League of Legends player Kirill “Likkrit” Malofeev. The core objective of this US-based action is to prevent the esports figure from pursuing further litigation outside of the United States and to block the enforcement of previous foreign court judgments against the streaming giant.
Court documents filed in the US system indicate that Amazon and Twitch are seeking an injunction to prohibit Likkrit from initiating new lawsuits or continuing existing ones against them globally, specifically those related to his Twitch account status. Furthermore, they aim to prevent any attempts to recognize or enforce rulings obtained in other jurisdictions.
This legal maneuver stems from events originating in 2022, when Twitch blocked Likkrit`s account, citing compliance with US Department of Treasury sanctions. Likkrit is the son of Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeev, who is subject to these sanctions.
Following the account closure, Likkrit filed a lawsuit in the Arbitration Court of Moscow, demanding the restoration of his access. The Russian court ruled in his favor, ordering Twitch either to reinstate the account or face a financial penalty. This penalty was structured as an escalating fine, beginning at ₽100,000 (roubles) and doubling weekly until the court`s requirement was met.
Twitch subsequently filed the California lawsuit in an effort to have the Moscow court`s verdict declared invalid. The company argues that the Russian ruling is unjust and based on legislation specifically designed, in their view, to undermine US sanctions policy. Twitch representatives have also characterized the accumulating fine as “unreasonable and completely disproportionate” when compared to the approximately $2,000 in revenue generated by Likkrit`s account over its nearly nine-year active period. The company has reportedly claimed that the accumulated penalty now “exceeds all the money in the world” – a figure that underscores the significant financial exposure Twitch faces under the Russian court order.
Beyond the legal entanglements, Kirill Malofeev is a recognizable figure in the esports community, particularly known for his time as a support player for top CIS League of Legends teams like Hard Random and Albus NoX Luna. His career highlights include securing two LCL championships and a notable run to the quarterfinals (5th-8th place) at the 2016 League of Legends World Championship with Albus NoX Luna.
Likkrit announced his retirement from professional play after receiving a six-month competitive ban from Riot Games following a personal stream. During the broadcast, he offered candid criticisms of what he perceived as systemic issues within the Russian-language League of Legends esports region, famously stating, “Our region should just die.” The LCL league itself has since ceased operations, adding a layer of historical context to the player`s past. Now, years after his playing career ended amidst controversy, his name is again prominent, albeit in the less conventional arena of international corporate litigation.