Fiji suspends seizure of Russian oligarch superycht

According to prosecutors' announcement, a court in Fiji has suspended the execution of a request by the United States to seize a $300m-worth superycht worth Washington says it is owned by Russian oligarch Suleieman Kerimov, against whom sanctions have been imposed.

Jahti “Amadea”, a total of 106m, was placed in the attention of authorities as Kerimov is part of a group of oligarchs close to the Kremlin, against which sanctions have been imposed by the United States due to the attack in Ukraine.

Jahti continues to be held by police in Fiji and is not allowed to leave the territorial waters of this island, despite the suspension of the execution of the motion, prosecutors said.

The luxury rule “Amadea” has platforms for helicopter landing, pool, jazz and a winter “”, according to the Superachtfan.com website. It has been anchored in Lauland, Fiji, South Pacific, since mid - April.

Last week, agents of Fiji's law enforcement bodies, along with American agents, took control of the Superyacht, based on the paper that had been handed over to the High Court of this island, reports VOA.

The U.S. Department of Justice demanded that the ship, estimated to be worth $300m, be seized for sanctions violations and alleged links to corruption. But the officially registered company as owner of “Amadeas”, Milerar Investment, managed Friday to secure a temporary suspension of the execution of American paper by the Court of Appeals, Fiji prosecutors said.

The Court of Appeals approved a temporary suspension of the order's”, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in Fiji told the AFP news agency on Monday.

The case is scheduled to return to court Thursday, and the United States' paper continues to be officially registered in Fiji courts, she said.

“Jaht has been banned from the waters of Fiji until another announcement”, she added.

“So far is kept in custody by Fiji police”.

The United States says Mr. Kerimov, who was enriched as co-owner of large Russian energy and financial companies, including Gazprom and Sberbank, is also an official of the Russian government.

In a copy of the made public order, the section of which lists various reasons to prove that Mr. Kerimov is the real owner of the yacht was recalled.

The order said ownership was transferred to the Milemari Investment company in August 2021.