Russian superyacht allegedly worth $700 million confiscated in Italy

 

Rome’s ministry of finance stated on Friday that Italian authorities had confiscated a $700 million luxury boat with connections to the Russian Kremlin.
Rome’s ministry of finance stated on Friday that Italian authorities had confiscated a $700 million luxury boat with connections to the Russian Kremlin.
Due to Russia’s participation in “undermining or endangering the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine,” the yacht was taken under coordinated actions with the European Union.
The Cayman Islands-flagged vessel, according to the finance ministry, “has long been under the notice of the authorities.”

Italian officials concealed the identity of the Scheherazade’s owner despite the study’s findings that the boat had “prominent” connections to Russians who were the focus of EU sanctions, according to the investigation.

According to some claims, Russian President Vladimir Putin is the rightful owner of the Scheherazade, while other reports identify Eduard Khudainatov, a former CEO of a state-owned oil corporation in Russia.
Khudainatov does not appear to have yet received a particular punishment, but the vessel was unable to leave Italy after a decision by Daniele Franco, the country’s finance minister.
In a March speech to the Italian parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy expressly mentioned the megayacht and urged action.

In a translated message, he said, “Don’t be a getaway for killers.” “Block each and every one of their properties, accounts, and boats, from Scheherazade to the tiniest. Block the assets of everyone with sway in Russia.”
Since Russia has prolonged its murderous conflict in Ukraine for more than ten weeks, Ukraine has pushed the international community to impose stronger sanctions on it.

The United States and other European countries have taken steps to terminate their links to Russian oil, and other countries have promised to do the same by the end of 2022. “You shouldn’t mix together your positive and bad traits. Imposing sanctions while simultaneously signing new contracts with Russia is forbidden. This is undoubtedly unacceptable during a time of war. It’s hypocritical, “In a Friday virtual talk to the Royal Institute of International Affairs Chatham House in the UK, Zelenskyy made the statement.