Italy confiscates alleged Putin mega-yacht shortly before leaving port
Created: 05/08/2022, 22:26
A 650 million euro yacht has been confiscated in Italy.
She had been in the sights of the authorities for a long time.
According to research, it could belong to the Russian President himself.
Marina di Carrara - Goodbye yachts: In the course of the escalating Ukraine conflict, numerous luxury vehicles belonging to Russian oligarchs have already been confiscated as part of the EU sanctions in Europe.
Also Vladimir Putin's ships?
Research by the team led by Kremlin critic Navalny suggests just that after Italy confiscated a 650 million euro yacht on Friday (May 6).
But the ownership structure seems unclear.
Who actually owns the yacht?
Alleged Putin mega-yacht confiscated: the verdict probably preceded an escape
"Scheherazade" is the name of the Italians' latest catch, which investigators say may secretly belong to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The financial police assigned the 140-meter-long ship to someone who has ties to "prominent elements of the Russian government" and other people on the EU sanctions list, the government in Rome announced on Friday evening.
The yacht flying the flag of the Cayman Islands, which was last serviced in the port of Marina di Carrara, had long been noticed by the Italian authorities.
Apparently Finance Minister Daniele Franco forestalled the Scheherazade from running out and possibly fleeing with his decision to confiscate it during the Ukraine war.
The
New York Times
reported this week that the yacht was launched on Tuesday for the first time after months in dry dock.
Crew members were seen hurrying to load the ship, and the yacht was refueled the week before.
An AFP photographer also reported on preparations for departure.
Luxury yacht confiscated: Who really owns the 650 million euro ship?
The yacht is valued at around 650 million euros by the Italian authorities.
Built in 2020 by the German company Lürssen, the ship will
have two helipads, a swimming pool and a cinema , according to the specialized website
SuperYachtFan .
A patrol boat in front of the luxury yacht Scheherazade on May 6, the evening of the confiscation.
Again and again there are reports that the yacht should belong to Putin.
© Federico Scopa/AFP
According to research by the team of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny, who is in prison in Russia, the ship belongs to Putin.
The ministry did not disclose the name of the owner.
The luxury yacht company
The Italian Sea Group
, which last worked on the ship, announced weeks ago that according to documents, Putin is not the owner.
According to Italian media, Eduard Khudainatov, the ex-head of the Russian state-owned company Rosneft, is registered as the owner.
The oil executive is also cited as the owner of the superyacht Amadea, which was seized in Fiji on Tuesday.
Apparently, Putin had already brought his yacht Graceful to safety from the port of Hamburg in mid-March - for fear of sanctions?
Whether the confiscated "Scheherazade" also belongs to him remains uncertain for the time being.
(chd/dpa/AFP)