Gibraltar sells Russian oligarch's yacht for $37.5 million
CBSNov 30, 2022
US Wants Forfeiture Of Sanctioned Russian Businessman's $300M Yacht
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Image copyright: Wikimedia Commons
The Facts
The US has filed a complaint asking for a $300M yacht docked in San Diego, California that allegedly belongs to sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov to be forfeited. However, another Russian businessman — the former president of Rosneft Oil, Eduard Khudainatov, who is not under sanction — filed a lawsuit against the US on Monday, claiming to be the owner of the yacht and requesting its release.
As Washington stepped up sanctions enforcement against people close to Russian President Vladimir Putin in May 2022, Fiji authorities seized the 348-foot (106-meter) Amadea yacht as the US pressed its case against the Russian owner.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
At best, the focus on seizing Russian billionaires' assets is a distraction from formulating a more realistic strategy to defeat Putin and restore Ukraine. At worst, it's evidence of clear hypocrisy, given the US wasn't sanctioned for invading Iraq for equally unjustified reasons. Either way, seizing superyachts doesn't help Ukraine.
Pro-establishment narrative
Seizing Russian assets, including those belonging to sanctioned individuals, is crucial for escalating economic pressure on the Kremlin. If the Western countries can navigate the legal complications, the assets should be transferred to Ukraine to help fund its defense and rebuild the nation.
