Court in Fiji rules Russian superyacht may be seized

SYDNEY: A Fiji court yesterday ruled that the United States can seize a Russianowned superyacht, media reported, 21 days after the luxury vessel

Amadea had arrived in the Pacific island nation and was detained by police.

US authorities assert Amadea is ultimately owned by Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, who has been sanctioned by the US and the European Union.

The US Justice Department’s

Taskforce KleptoCapture has focused on seizing yachts and other luxury assets to put the finances of Russian oligarchs under strain.

Fiji’s High Court ruled it would grant an order to register a US seizure warrant, Fiji Broadcasting Corp reported.

Media reported that lawyers for Amadea said they would seek an interim stay to stop the vessel being towed away. — Reuters