US to seize superyacht in Fiji

In Fiji, the director of public prosecutions requested an injunction to prevent the United States from seizing a superyacht thought to belong to a Russian billionaire that is currently moored.

Suleiman Kerimov, a Russian businessman who is the target of economic penalties imposed by the United States and the European Union in response to Russia’s operations in Syria and Ukraine, is commonly thought to possess the Amadea.

Following an 18-day journey from Mexico, the ship landed in Fiji a week ago.
Sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which it terms a “special military operation,” have resulted in the seizure of luxury yachts and villas owned by Russian billionaires in numerous nations across the world.

Prosecutor Christopher Pryde of Fiji filed an application to the High Court to prohibit the Amadea from leaving the country.

the yacht Amadea be prevented from leaving Fijian seas until the registration of a warrant to take the property and (ii) the registration of a US warrant to seize the Amadea was completed,” said the application.

According to the US embassy, “the United States is determined to locating and seizing the assets of the billionaires who have backed Russia’s savage, unjustified war of choice against Ukraine.” The embassy did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The application has yet to be heard by the court.

Reuters was informed last week by an Amadea superyacht agent working in Fiji that the vessel’s attorneys were disputing Suleiman’s ownership.

In accordance with information obtained by Reuters, the vessel is registered to a Cayman Islands-based firm.

In reaction to Russia’s activities in Syria and Ukraine, the United States imposed sanctions on Kerimov in 2018 and 2014.

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