• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Jennifer Coolidge reveals ‘terrible mistake’ she made early on in her career
  • Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari
  • Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

Russian oligarchs’ yachts seized in Europe, others harbouring in Maldives

Towleroad March 3, 2022 Leave a Comment

Published by
Reuters
498131 origin 1

By Tassilo Hummel and Alasdair Pal

PARIS (Reuters) – France and Germany have seized two superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs, French authorities and Forbes magazine said, hitting Russia’s super-rich under sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

At least five other superyachts owned by Russian billionaires are anchored or cruising in the Maldives, an Indian Ocean island nation, ship tracking data showed.

The yachts arrived in the Maldives after the West imposed sanctions on Russia. Washington, the European Union and others have said they will target oligarchs who have amassed fortunes and political influence under Russian President Vladmir Putin.

“Thanks to the French customs officers who are enforcing the European Union’s sanctions against those close to the Russian government,” Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday after French customs seized the 88-metre “Amore Vero” (True Love).

The yacht had been about to flee, he said.

It was impounded in the French Riviera port of La Ciotat and belongs to a company whose main shareholder is Rosneft chief Igor Sechin, a close ally of Putin, the finance ministry said.

In Germany, a nearly $600 million luxury yacht owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov was seized in the northern port of Hamburg, Forbes reported.

And in another sign of Russian oligarchs feeling the sanctions’ heat, billionaire Roman Abramovich said on Wednesday he would sell the Chelsea Football Club and promised to donate money from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine.

TRACKING ASSETS

The United States is preparing a sanctions package targeting more Russian oligarchs as well as their companies and assets, two sources said on Wednesday, after U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States would work to seize the yachts, luxury apartments and private jets of wealthy Russians.

The EU, the United States, Canada and Britain are pooling efforts to examine how oligarchs could find ways to bypass the sanctions and also nail down the role of trust companies in holding assets, an EU official said on Thursday.

This task force will aim to close loopholes as they become apparent, the official said.

The impact of the sanctions was being widely felt.

“There is a significant chilling effect on any new business with Russia,” said Matt Townsend, a sanctions partner at law firm Allen & Overy.

“People are concerned about credit risk exposure but are also worried about what’s coming next. Everyone’s eyes are on the next wave of significant sanctions.”

READY TO FLEE?

The Amore Vero seized in La Ciotat had arrived there on Jan. 3 and was due to stay until April 1 for repairs, the French finance ministry said.

On Wednesday, customs officers noted that the yacht was “taking steps to sail off urgently, without the repair works being over”, the statement said.

As it was subject to the new sanctions, the officers decided to seize it.

Rosneft, a Russian oil giant, did not respond to a request for comment over the seizure.

Monaco-based Imperial Yachts told Reuters the yacht was owned by a firm called Kazimo, which had appointed Imperial Yachts as managers of the boat in 2018.

“The individual you name is not connected with either Kazimo nor the yacht,” a representative for Imperial Yachts told Reuters when asked about Sechin. The French finance ministry did not immediately return a request for comment.

Spanish group MB92, which owns the Ciotat shipyard, said the company was cooperating with the French authorities.

In Germany, the 512-foot (156-metre) yacht Dilbar had been undergoing a refit in the shipyards of Blohm + Voss, Forbes said.

The German government had frozen the asset and employees working on the ship did not appear for work on Wednesday, Forbes said.

A representative of Usmanov said he had no confirmation of the yacht’s reported seizure. Germany’s General Customs office said details of operational measures cannot be made public.

A spokesperson for Blohm + Voss declined to comment on the Dilbar, saying only that all orders and projects of its owners, the Luerssen Group, and subsidiaries were treated in accordance with the legal situation.

MALDIVES HAVEN?

Meanwhile, at least five superyachts owned by Russian billionaires appeared to have found temporary haven in the Maldives, a luxury holiday destination.

The superyacht Clio, owned by Oleg Deripaska, the founder of aluminium giant Rusal who was sanctioned by the United States in 2018, was anchored off the capital Male on Wednesday, according to shipping database MarineTraffic.

The Titan, owned by Alexander Abramov, a co-founder of Russian steel producer Evraz, arrived on Monday.

Three more yachts owned by Russian oligarchs were seen cruising in Maldives waters on Wednesday, the data showed. They included the 88-metre (288-foot) Nirvana owned by Russia’s richest man, Vladimir Potanin.

Most of the vessels were last seen anchored in Middle Eastern ports. A spokesperson for the Maldives government did not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Reuters in New Delhi, Paris, Berlin, London, Moscow, Brussels and Barcelona, Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Angus MacSwan)

498131 498131 origin 1 1
498131 498131 origin 1 2

Topics: Aaon, towleroad More Posts About: Roman Abramovich

Related Posts
  • Former Chelsea Football Club Owner Roman Abramovich Reportedly ‘Poisoned Along With Ukraine Peace Negotiators’ In Russia
  • US Announces $5 Million Reward For Anyone With Information Leading To Asset Seizure Of Russian Oligarchs
  • Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari

    Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari

    Published by OK Magazine @britneyspears/instagram Britney Spears is trying something new! The princess of pop changed up her look while joining husband Sam Asghari in the gym, opting for a pink, silk dress with lace and …Read More »
  • Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

    Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

    Published by PsyPost New research indicates that marriage and political activism are intertwined, but the nature of this relationship differs based on sexual identities. Married heterosexual individuals tend to be less politically active, while sexual minorities, …Read More »
  • ‘It’s great!’ Elliot Page talks dating since coming out as trans

    ‘It’s great!’ Elliot Page talks dating since coming out as trans

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Elliot Page is having more fun dating since his transition. The 36-year-old star- who was previously married to Emma Portner from 2018 until 2021 – was born female and lived as …Read More »
  • Barstool Sports hits back amid backlash over online sportsbook’s support for Pride month

    Barstool Sports hits back amid backlash over online sportsbook’s support for Pride month

    Published by Raw Story Barstool Sports is facing backlash over its support for Pride month, and the sports betting blog is hitting back, The Daily Beast reports. Barstool Sports, which in 2020 launched the Barstool Sportsbook …Read More »
Previous Post: « Lady Gaga among co-hosts for Elton John’s Oscar viewing party
Next Post: Putin vows ‘uncompromising fight’ as Ukraine war enters second week »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • 14 organizations that support LGBTQ+ tech workers

    14 organizations that support LGBTQ+ tech workers

  • Indiana mayor orders city remove social media posts celebrating Pride: report

    Indiana mayor orders city remove social media posts celebrating Pride: report

  • ‘Grotesque scaremongering’: Nikki Haley decried for blaming teen suicidal ideation on trans kids

    ‘Grotesque scaremongering’: Nikki Haley decried for blaming teen suicidal ideation on trans kids

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • Elliot Page Shockingly Admits He had Secret Relationship With Kate Mara While She was Dating Max Minghelia

    Elliot Page Shockingly Admits He had Secret Relationship With Kate Mara While She was Dating Max Minghelia

  • VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Mark Indelicato & Vincent Rodriguez Discuss Being Gay Role Models In ‘With Love’

    VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Mark Indelicato & Vincent Rodriguez Discuss Being Gay Role Models In ‘With Love’

  • Britney Spears ‘Already Toned’ Down Her Tell-All Book ‘a Few Times,’ Says Insider: Pop Star Is ‘Annoyed at All the Delays’

    Britney Spears ‘Already Toned’ Down Her Tell-All Book ‘a Few Times,’ Says Insider: Pop Star Is ‘Annoyed at All the Delays’

Partner Links

  • May The Bloopers Be With You
  • “Remy Ma says she gets to be 35 years old because of Covid & prison” links
  • Taylor Swift & Matt Healy are already done, one month after they ‘began’
  • Sean Hayes shares hilarious NY deli moment!
  • Remains of the Day (06/06)

Most Recent

  • Jennifer Coolidge reveals ‘terrible mistake’ she made early on in her career

    Jennifer Coolidge reveals ‘terrible mistake’ she made early on in her career

  • Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari

    Britney Spears Goes to Gym in Silk Dress and Heels With ‘Hot, Crazy Husband’ Sam Asghari

  • Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

    Study finds the political impact of marriage varies by sexual identity

  • ‘It’s great!’ Elliot Page talks dating since coming out as trans

    ‘It’s great!’ Elliot Page talks dating since coming out as trans

  • Barstool Sports hits back amid backlash over online sportsbook’s support for Pride month

    Barstool Sports hits back amid backlash over online sportsbook’s support for Pride month

  • Kelly Clarkson Looks Stunning in Pride-Themed, Makeup Free Video

    Kelly Clarkson Looks Stunning in Pride-Themed, Makeup Free Video

  • Andy Cohen Thanks Former Governor Andrew Cuomo for Having Daughter Lucy be ‘One of the First’ Gestational Surrogacies in New York

    Andy Cohen Thanks Former Governor Andrew Cuomo for Having Daughter Lucy be ‘One of the First’ Gestational Surrogacies in New York

  • Honor the past and celebrate the present with PRIDE | Opinion

    Honor the past and celebrate the present with PRIDE | Opinion

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×