Where are the Russian oligarchs’ yachts?
RUSSIAN oligarchs have felt the sanctions placed upon them by various countries, including seizures of their superyachts.
This has caused a growing number of oligarchs to move their yachts into no extradition waters.
Where are the Russian oligarchs' yachts?
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, western countries have rolled out sanctions designed to cripple President Vladimir Putin's economy.
But the most prosperous and influential Russians keep their assets far away from their homeland.
The Russian oligarchs' famous yachts are scattered throughout the world's seas.
As Europe and North America mull further sanctions, Marine Traffic data shows that four oligarch-owned yachts headed south.
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They ditched EU-protected waters like the coast of Barcelona to dodge officials who could eventually seize their ships.
On March 2, 2022, German authorities blocked in Alisher Usmanov's mega-yacht Dilbar in a Hamburg harbour, not seizing it but preventing the 490-feet-long yacht from leaving.
Embattled oligarch Roman Abramovich, who's caught up in the sale of Chelsea football team, has two mega-yachts.
Solaris has been spotted heading for Turkey after docking in Montenegro while Eclipse is off the coast of Algeria.
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Vladimir Strzhalkovsky's superyacht the Ragnar has not been seized but is currently stuck in Norway because nobody will sell it fuel.
The Maldives became a yacht hot spot as Victor Rashnikov and Oleg Deripaska's luxury vessels dropped anchor there, .
Alexei Mordashov and Andrey Kostin chose to travel to the Seychelles in their respective boats.
Crucially, neither the Maldives nor the Seychelles has announced sanctions against Russia or its citizens.
Vagit Alekperov's yacht sailed from Barcelona to Montenegro, as reported by , despite the country's ongoing attempts to keep billionaires from hiding assets on its shores.
Which Russian oligarch's yachts have been seized?
The Russian billionaires are thought to be some of the only people who have Putin's ear.
Sanctions against the average citizen living in Russia might not move the superrich, but it's hoped that threats of seizing foreign assets could.
On March 2, French authorities seized Amore Vero, which was linked to Igor Sechin, in La Ciotat in the Mediterranean.
Another of Sechin's yachts named Crescent was taken by Spanish authorities on March 16, in the port of Tarragona, Catalonia.
Shortly after, on March 14, the $140 million yacht belonging to Sergei Chemezov, a former KGB officer, was seized in Barcelona, Spain.
Spanish authorities also seized Lady Anastasia, in Mallorca, which reportedly belongs to Alexander Mikheyev, a Russian arms exporter.
Super-yacht Lady M, belonging to steel magnate Alexey Mordashov was seized in Imperia by Italian authorities.
Another yacht in Sanremo was taken, called Lena and belonging to to Gennady Timchenko, an oil and gas mogul.
Italy seized a $580 million yacht owned by Andrey Melnichenko, who was sanctioned on March 9, in the port of Trieste.
According to Croatian reports, Victor Medvedchuck;s mega yacht called the Royal Romance has also been seized.
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What other major sanctions have been placed on Russia?
Western countries started sanctioning Russian banks, billionaires and politicians the day Putin sent troops into Ukraine.
This means Russian entities can't access their bank accounts.
Perhaps the most crushing blow came when Russia was removed from the Swift network.
The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecom facilitates speedy exchanges between banks all over the globe. Without Swift, transacting with Russia becomes much more difficult.
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Plus, private companies from Disney to Land Rover are racing to distance themselves from Russia as they stop trade with the state.
All the while, new technology blocks are keeping Russia from western social media and video services.
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