The United States says Kerimov bought the hunt through shell companies last year. The Russian oligarch is estimated to be worth $ 16 billion and earned a fortune by investing in Russian gold producer Polyus.
The first time the US imposed sanctions on Kerimov was in 2018. At that time, the billionaire had been arrested in France accused of money laundering.
The luxury boat over 100 meters long is worth 325 million dollars. In addition to a lobster aquarium, it has both its own pool and helicopter pad.
Court in The Pacific nation of Fiji on Friday gave the United States the right to seize the boat in the latest operation against sanctioned Russian oligarchs after the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
But the decision is likely to be appealed to the Fiji Supreme Court, according to defense attorney Feizal Haniff.
Haniff believes that the country has no right to dispose of Amadea until it is clear who the boat’s real owner is.
The defense attorney says that it is in fact another oligarch – Eduard Khudainatov – who owns the boat. He is the former head of the Russian oil company Rosneft and has a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, no sanctions have been imposed on Khudainatov.
But the court went on the FBI’s line. Although documents show that Khudainatov is the owner of Amadea, the US intelligence service says he is only used as a goalkeeper – and questions the oligarch’s wealth.
Khudainatov also owns the even larger superhero Scheherazade. The boat was seized in Italy earlier in May, on suspicion that the real owner is Vladimir Putin.
“The fact that Khudainatov is the owner of two of the largest known super-hunts, both linked to sanctioned individuals, suggests that Khudainatov is being used as a pure, sanction-free goalkeeper, to hide the real owners,” the FBI said. AP.
The defense believes that there is no evidence that Khudainatov could not afford both boats and claims that the evidence is largely based on rumors spread by anonymous members of the crew on Amadea.
Pending an appeal, the court has ruled that the billion-dollar boat will remain in the port of Lautoka, where it is currently anchored.