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The Suva High Court in Fiji has granted permission to the US for the seizure of the megayacht, Amadea, which is owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov.
As per Fiji’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the court approved an application for the registration of the US warrant to impound the vessel, reported Bloomberg.
Earlier, the court issued an order for the detention and prevention of the megayacht from leaving the territory.
Following an 18-day journey from Mexico, Amadea reached the Fijian port of Lautoka on 12 April, as per data shared by the news agency.
This March, the UK, and the European Union (EU) sanctioned Kerimov for his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since 2018, Kerimov has been on the sanctions list in the US.
Fiji lawyer Feizal Haniff stated in the proceedings that Millemarin Investments is the legal owner of the Cayman Islands-flagged Amadea, while the US claims that the beneficial owner of the vessel is Kerimov.
The news agency quoted the US Embassy in Fiji as saying: “We continue to ratchet up the pressure on Putin’s oligarchs and we are working with allies and partners to go after corrupt gains from some of the individuals closest to Putin, no matter where they are held around the world.”
The $325m and 350ft megayacht, which was constructed in Germany in 2016, features twin 5,800 horsepower engines that support a maximum speed of 20 knots and a maximum range of up to 8,000 nautical miles.
Featuring a helipad and mosaic-tiled pool, the Amadea also includes eight suites to accommodate up to 16 guests and a crew of 25.
Last month, the US imposed a ban on Russian-affiliated ships from entering its ports in response to the Ukraine conflict.
