Brad Pitt is taking strong legal steps to gain access to his ex-wife Angelina Jolie’s private messages, an important move before their upcoming trial about the French winery Château Miraval. The actor recently submitted a legal request asking the court to force Alexei Oliynik of Stoli Group to hand over his communications with Jolie and to sit for a formal interview under oath. Pitt claims these messages are crucial to his case.
In legal documents filed in June found by Page Six, Pitt’s team stated that they had “tried to discuss and negotiate” with Oliynik about the matter but have so far faced refusal. The main issue in Pitt’s argument is that Oliynik, who is from Switzerland, has “not cooperated” with the legal process. Oliynik has reportedly said that Swiss law “does not allow foreign citizens to be forced to travel to California for a deposition” as his reason for not complying.
Despite going to AA meetings and probably needing to stay away from alcohol, Pitt’s lawyers argue that the legal precedent Oliynik is referencing “does not apply here.” According to Page Six, they argue this is especially true since Pitt is only asking for a “remote deposition to take place in Oliynik’s home country.”
Brad Pitt needs his ex wife’s messages
The conflict revolves around Château Miraval, a French winery that Jolie, 50, and Pitt, 61, bought together while they were in a relationship. After their split, Jolie, who starred in “Maleficent,” sold her share of the winery to the Stoli Group. Pitt has strongly objected to this sale, calling it a “spiteful” move meant to hurt him during their difficult divorce. In 2022, Pitt sued his now ex-wife over this issue.
In the June 30 filing, Pitt also claims that Oliynik was “following orders from his boss, Stoli chief Yuri Shefler,” and acted as the “main person responsible” for the disputed sale. Because of this, Pitt believes Oliynik is “without a doubt one of the most important witnesses in this lawsuit.” The judge has not yet ruled on Pitt’s request to force Oliynik’s cooperation.
People close to Pitt’s legal situation say this filing is about more than just Alexei Oliynik, stressing that it’s “not just about Alexei [Oliynik], it’s about Stoli [Group] as a whole.” An insider claims that Pitt’s legal team “had no choice” because Stoli Group has repeatedly avoided cooperating. Another source added that “Stoli has consistently tried to ignore or fight court orders for evidence,” saying that “They have not been following standard legal procedures.” A trial date for the ex-couple’s winery dispute has not been set.
Published: Jul 11, 2025 05:30 am