Russian Oligarch’s Yacht Seized by Fijian Authorities on US Request

Fijian authorities execute a seizure warrant freezing the superyacht named "Amadea" docked at Queens Wharf in Lautoka, Fiji, on May 5, 2021. U.S. Department of Justice

Authorities in Fiji seized a yacht belonging to Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov following a warrant from the United States, finding documents that have implicated the owner of violating American law.

The 348-foot-long luxury vessel, Amadea, arrived in Fiji on April 13 after an 18-day voyage from Mexico. The vessel has been the focus of Washington’s seizure attempt as part of America’s sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

The $300 million Amadea was seized by Fijian police and FBI agents on May 4, two days after a local court granted a U.S. warrant that linked the vessel to money laundering.

On May 6, the court refused a stay application by Millemarin Investments, the vessel’s registered owner, which wanted to prevent American authorities from removing it from Fiji.

The yacht is currently in the possession of U.S. authorities.

Kerimov was sanctioned by the United States in 2018. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated him as part of a group of Russian oligarchs who profit from the Russian government’s “malign activity around the globe,” including the annexation of Crimea, according to the warrant application.

The FBI’s seizure warrant application for Amadea points out that documents found in the yacht show Kerimov had breached U.S. law.

“There is probable cause to believe that Kerimov and those acting on his behalf and for his benefit caused U.S. dollar transactions for the AMADEA to be sent through U.S. financial institutions, after a time which Kerimov was designated by the Treasury Department,” the FBI said in the seizure warrant application.

“Further, there is probable cause to believe that Kerimov had an interest in the AMADEA and the financial transactions for its benefit, and thus a license was required for U.S. dollar transactions, but not obtained.”

In addition, the Russian oligarch and his co-conspirators “conspired to and did cause funds to be transferred to, from, or through” the United States with the intent to continue violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, Amadea’s operators attempted to avoid being seized “almost immediately” by switching off the yacht’s automated information system on Feb. 24. Though the paperwork filed by the vessel indicated that it would have next gone to the Philippines, the FBI stated in its warrant application that Amadea headed off instead to Vladivostok.

“This seizure demonstrates the FBI’s persistence in pursuing sanctioned Russian oligarchs attempting to evade accountability for their role in jeopardizing our national security,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said, according to a May 5 press release by the Department of Justice.

“The FBI, along with our international partners, will continue to seek out those individuals who contribute to the advancement of Russia’s malign activities and ensure they are brought to justice, regardless of where, or how, they attempt to hide.”

Reuters contributed to this report.