Russian oligarchs punished Roman Abramovich’s fleet of luxury yachts Friday was revealed to be more extensive than previously known after two more luxury ships were discovered in Antigua – both of which are now facing confiscation.
British authorities determined that Abramović was the owner of the yachts Halo and Garçon, which were the subject of constant scrutiny while docked in Antigua as Western nations squeeze the fortunes of wealthy Russians during the invasion of Ukraine.
Halo is valued at about $38 million, while Garçon is worth about $20 million, according to data from yacht appraisal firm VesselsValue.
Abramovich’s ownership of the two additional superyachts came to light next Extensive investigation by the Financial Times.
A senior Antigua official said Al Jazeera had requested information on Wynham Overseas Ltd., an Abramovich-related company based in the British Virgin Islands, listed as the owner of Halo and Garson. The company is on the UK sanctions list.
In a letter to the Antigua government, British officials said an investigation had determined that “the beneficial owner of Wenham Overseas Ltd is Roman Abramovich”.
Ronald Sanders, Antigua’s ambassador to the US, said his country is ready to seize and confiscate both ships if it receives an official request from the UK government.
“The only way we can (seize ships) is for the British to prove in their MLA request that this is the guy they wanted because he committed some crimes,” Sanders told Reuters.
It was already known that Abramovich was the owner of $600 million Solaris and $700 million Eclipse, both of whom fled to sea last month after the UK imposed sanctions on the oligarch. Both yachts were The last thing known to have been anchored in Turkey.
According to the Financial Times, the Russian billionaire may still own a fifth yacht, the $11 million Sosoro, which he first bought in 1998. While Abramovich reportedly gave the yacht to his ex-wife after their divorce, the outlet said a source with knowledge of his fleet and documents Another showed that the oligarch was still connected to the ship through another company.
Abramović and other oligarchs scrambled to protect the trappings of their fortunes during an increasingly brutal crackdown. UK sanctions froze Abramovich’s assets and Forced him to sell his share of the property At Chelsea Football Club.
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced about it Abramovich may have been poisoned alongside Ukrainian officials last month as they attended peace talks aimed at ending the invasion – a sign of the erosion of the oligarch’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.