US seizes 2 luxury planes owned by billionaire Abramovich

On June 6, the US Department of Justice said that two planes of billionaire Roman Abramovich – a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and a Gulfstream G650ER, flew into Russian territory in March. This action violated regulations. US export controls on US-made aircraft were enacted on March 2.

According to the promulgated regulations, the US prohibits the export, re-export or transfer of aircraft and aircraft parts manufactured by this country to Russia without a permit from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), a agency of the US Department of Commerce.

According to the US Department of Justice, the jet owned by Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich is valued at more than $400 million. The $350 million Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is currently in Dubai (UAE), while the $60 million Gulfstream G650ER is in Russia.

It is not clear when US officials might be able to seize Abramovich’s jets because they were not present in the US or one of the territories it controls at the time of the Justice Department. order confiscation.

The US Justice Department said Mr Abramovich owned the planes through companies based in Cyprus, Jersey and the British Virgin Islands.

On the same day, the US Department of Commerce published a letter accusing billionaire Abramovich of intentionally violating US restrictions on preventing the export of certain technologies and goods to Russia. According to the US Treasury Department, the charge could result in fines of up to double the value of export transactions.

Currently, billionaire Roman Abramovich has not yet responded to the US Justice Department’s decision to confiscate his two luxury planes.

Billionaire Abramovich, 55, holds Russian and Israeli citizenship. He is worth an estimated $12.5 billion thanks to his activities in the oil, steel, aluminum and other industries.

Mr. Roman Abramovich is also the former owner of the famous football club Chelsea (England). After the special Russian military campaign in Ukraine, he had to sell the club.