US complains: seized superyacht from Russian oligarch costs more than 7 million in maintenance per year | Abroad

It was authorities in Fiji who seized the ‘Amadea’ in May 2022, based on a US warrant stating that the 106-metre superyacht worth €278 million belonged to a certain Suleiman Kerimov. That Russian oligarch and his family have more than enough money for a floating toy of the caliber of the Amadea. They are worth a cool $10.7 billion, according to ‘Forbes’. The man amassed his fortune through the large Russian gold mining company Polyus.

Kerimov was already on a US sanctions list in 2014 and 2018. The seizure of his yacht in 2022 came as Washington stepped up sanctions on people close to Russian President Vladimir Putin in light of the invasion of Ukraine. The US court ruled that Kerimov had violated the sanctions against him by paying 1 million dollars (930,000 euros) in maintenance payments for the Amadea through the US financial system. As a result, the ship, which is now anchored in San Diego, was seized.

But as has often become apparent with seized Russian superyachts, it has also become a headache here.

Several attempts by the Americans to auction the superyacht (the proceeds would possibly go to Ukraine, ed.) are being thwarted by another wealthy Russian: Eduard Khudainatov. He was, among other things, the CEO of Rosneft, Russia’s largest oil company. ‘Forbes’ describes Khudainatov as one of Russia’s most mysterious oligarchs. And surprisingly enough, his name is mentioned more often when talking about superyachts.

For example, he is suspected of acting as a “front man” for no fewer than three superyachts that in reality belong to none other than Putin. And according to the Americans, he also presents himself as a stooge for Kerimov in the Amadea case. The Russian claims that he is the rightful owner of the Amadea and that the ship cannot therefore be auctioned, as it is not on the American sanctions list. He has been on the European sanctions list since June 2022.

The Americans are scratching their heads about the matter. In court papers filed Friday, federal prosecutors in Manhattan told District Judge Dale Ho that they have been saddled with an “excessive” amount of $600,000 (556,000 euros) in monthly maintenance costs for the Amadea. The government must therefore pay no less than 7.2 million dollars (6.7 million euros) annually for the boat. An auction of the ship is justified, it sounds.

The US government also states in court documents that talks to have Khudainatov pay for the maintenance of the yacht have failed. It is also indicated that the sky-high maintenance costs are indeed “essential” to maintain the value of a yacht like this.

Khudainatov has until February 23 to respond to prosecutors. In a statement, his lawyers briefly said that the proposal to sell the ship is “premature”. They urged Judge Ho to refuse the sale until he determines whether the seizure was “unconstitutional.”