Brad Pitt demands access to his ex-wife's private messages. Angelina Jolie, what is her intention?

According to US media, the actor born in 1963 filed a petition asking the court to allow access to private messages between his ex-wife and Alexei Oliynik - a key figure in the Miraval share purchase deal in 2021.

The legal move is said to clarify the agreements between Angelina and the Stoli Group - the entity that bought her shares in the real estate that was once joint property.

In a filing with the Los Angeles court on June 30, Brad Pitt identified Alexei Oliynik as a Swiss national who is currently an employee of Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, the owner of SPI Group, Stoli's parent company. Brad believes that Oliynik is not simply an administrative employee but a central figure in negotiating and completing the acquisition of Château Miraval shares from Angelina Jolie. Therefore, the actor asked the court to force Oliynik to testify in the upcoming trial.

"He is a key link in the investigation into the nature of the share purchase. The communications between Angelina and Oliynik may reveal the motives, strategies, and level of coordination between the parties involved," Brad Pitt's legal representative said in the lawsuit. In addition to requesting the content of the text messages between Jolie and Oliynik, Brad's side also requested documents, emails, and exchanges related to Stoli Group during the negotiation of this purchase.

However, the approach to Oliynik did not go smoothly. Brad Pitt's lawyers said they had tried to contact and work with him to arrange a deposition but had not received a positive response. Oliynik refused to cooperate, citing Swiss law that states that citizens of this country cannot be compelled to testify in a California trial. Brad's side argued that the current request was for a remote deposition, not for Oliynik to leave Switzerland. They asserted that the cited law did not apply in this case.

The judge has yet to make a final decision on the witness subpoenas or whether Brad will be able to access the text messages between Jolie and Oliynik. Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie, Stoli Group and Alexei Oliynik have not commented on the new developments.

A source familiar with the case told Page Six that Pitt's legal action is not just directed at Oliynik, but is also a response to the entire Stoli Group's conduct throughout the proceedings. "Stoli has repeatedly attempted to delay, evade, or object to the court's requests for evidence. They have not followed due process," the person said.

The Château Miraval dispute between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has been going on since 2022, stemming from Jolie quietly selling her shares to Stoli Group without notifying her ex-husband. Brad Pitt alleged that this action violated the unspoken agreement between the two, which was made when they were living together that neither party would sell shares without the consent of the other.

Château Miraval is not only a wine estate in France but also a place associated with many personal memories of the once most powerful couple in Hollywood. Having purchased this real estate in 2008 for about 28.4 million USD, the couple invested their efforts to develop the Miraval wine brand, in which Brad Pitt plays a key executive role. Jolie, according to many sources, has not significantly participated in the business, but still owns 50% of the shares through her own company.

Brad Pitt has accused his ex-wife of acting out of “revenge” over unresolved differences since their 2016 divorce. Angelina Jolie, meanwhile, has repeatedly tried to link the property lawsuit to allegations of violence against Brad’s children, which he has vehemently denied. Their legal battle has long gone beyond financial matters, becoming a constant psychological battle that neither of them is willing to back down from.

In May, the court rejected Angelina Jolie’s request to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Brad Pitt, temporarily giving the actor an advantage. However, no official trial date has been set. Legal experts say the case could drag on for several more years if an out-of-court settlement is not reached.

Currently, Brad Pitt is still in charge of operations at Château Miraval, while Stoli Group also claims to have the right to operate through the purchase of shares from Jolie. The "two owners" situation in one business not only creates legal confusion but also causes this wine brand to be dragged into an unwanted media war.

As disputes over ownership, management and personal motives continue to haunt the two stars, the Miraval lawsuit is becoming a prime example of the complexity and length of post-divorce property disputes among superstars.

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