Fiji asks the US to take away the Russian superyacht
The Fiji Supreme Court ruled that the US should remove the Russian billionaire’s superyacht Amadea, because the Fiji government is paying maintenance fees.
Fiji on May 5 announced on behalf of the US to confiscate superyacht Amadea 106 m long, worth 300 million USD, believed to be the billionaire’s. Russia Suleiman Kerimov, who is sanctioned by the US and EU. However, the lawyer representing the owner of the superyacht Amadea denied this, asserting that the boat was owned by Russian billionaire Eduard Khudainatov, who is not on the sanctions list.
Superyacht Amadea has been in Fiji since April 13, after 18 days of moving from Mexico. The FBI says it costs about $25 million to $30 million a year to operate, and the United States will pay to maintain the boat.
However, the Fijian government is paying the cost while the ship’s registrant, Millemarin Investments, is appealing.
June 7, Supreme Court Fiji ordered the US to move the superyacht Amadea out of Fijian waters because it is “expensive” to keep it in the country.
The head of the Fiji public prosecutor’s office Christopher Pryde said the country’s courts had determined that matters related to “alleged money laundering and ownership” of the superyacht Amadea must be decided in US courts. “Amadea has been handed over to the US authorities and it will leave Fiji,” Pryde confirmed.
The US Embassy in Fiji did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Superyacht Amadea docked at Queens Wharf in Lautoka, Fiji, on April 13. Image AP.
The Amadea yacht, built in 2016 by the German shipyard Lurssen, can accommodate 18 guests and 36 crew members. Facilities include a swimming pool, hot tub, helipad and a garden on the deck.
Western countries have repeatedly confiscated yachts of Russian tycoons. In March, the French Ministry of Finance seize Amore Vero, a $281 million superyacht owned by Igor Sechin, the chief executive officer of Russian oil giant Rosneft. In April, Spain confiscated a $90 million yacht of a Russian billionaire at the request of Washington. Last month, billionaire Khudainatov’s $ 700 million yacht was also detained by Italian police.
US President Joe Biden has proposed liquidating the confiscated assets of Russian oligarchs and using the money to support Ukraine. The proposal would require major law reform because under current US regulations, Washington can only seize but not liquidate the assets of individuals subject to sanctions.
Ngoc Anh (Follow Reuters)
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