Amadea yacht of Russian oligarch Kerimov was confiscated in Fiji/US Department of Justice
The court ruled that the luxury vessel Amadea is subject to confiscation due to Kerimov's likely violations of US law. In particular, he is suspected of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), money laundering and conspiracy.
Kerimov's yacht was confiscated
The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control recognized Kerimov as part of a group of Russian oligarchs profiting from the Russian government due to corruption and its criminal activities around the world, including the occupation of Crimea. The ministry, when imposing sanctions on Kerimov, also referred to the fact that it is an official of the government of the aggressor country and a member of the Federation Council.
According to court documents, the oligarch owned Amadea after his appointment. In addition, Kerimov and those who acted on his behalf and in his favor were sent to support and maintain the yacht of transactions in dollars through US financial institutions.
This ruling should make it clear that there is no hiding place for the assets of persons violating US laws. And there is no hiding place for the assets of criminals who contribute to the Russian regime. The Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to bring to justice those who contribute to the death and destruction we see in Ukraine, Attorney General Merrick Garland said.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco noted that in April she warned about that the department oversees every yacht “purchased with dirty money”.
“This yacht confiscation should tell every corrupt Russian oligarch that he cannot hide – even in the most remote part of the world. We will use every means to enforce the sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine,” the official added. .
Kerimov's yacht costs about $300 million
FBI Director Christopher Ray added that the confiscation of Kerimov's yacht demonstrates the Service's persistence in pursuing victims sanctions of Russian oligarchs and trying to avoid responsibility for their role in the threat to US national security.
“The FBI together with our international partners will continue to look for those individuals who contribute to the development of Russia's criminal activities, and will ensure that they are held accountable no matter where and how they try to hide,” Rey added.
Confiscation of the Russian oligarch's yacht coordinated the US Justice Department's KleptoCapture task force, which specifically monitors compliance with sanctions imposed by the United States and allies in response to Russia's unprovoked military intervention in Ukraine.
Having received a request for mutual legal assistance from the United States, the Fiji authorities complied with it – the Fijian court also issued a warrant for the internal arrest of Kerimov's yacht. The Amadea is worth approximately $300 million or more . The yacht is now located in Lautoka, Fiji.
The case is being investigated by the FBI field office in New York. The arrest is handled by Andrew Beaty, a trial lawyer from the Counterintelligence and Export Control Department of the Department of Homeland Security, and Joshua Son, a prosecutor from the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Department of the Criminal Division.
Pay attention! Suleiman Kerimov is a Russian businessman and politician , member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia and deputy of the State Duma in 1999 – 2007. In addition, he owns the gold mining company Polyus. The oligarch is currently under US, UK and EU sanctions. According to Bloomberg, after the imposition of sanctions, Kerimov's fortune fell from $15.1 billion to $12.7 billion.
Russian oligarch's luxury ship confiscated: video
