France, Germany Seize 2 Russian Oligarchs' Mega-Yachts Owned By Putin Allies

Two mega-yachts owned by Russian oligarchs, who are reportedly close allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, were seized by authorities in Germany and France this week.

In Germany, the Dilbar – a $600 million, 512-foot mega-yacht owned by billionaire Alisher Usmanov, was seized by officials on Wednesday as it was being retrofitted in a Hamburg, Germany, shipyard, Forbes reported.

The vessel had been undergoing work at the shipyard since October by employees of Blohm+Voss, who were not working on the yacht at the time of seizure, according to Forbes.

The Dilbar is claimed to be the world’s largest motor yacht by gross tonnage by its German shipbuilder Lurssen, weighing in at nearly 16,000 tons. The ship operates with a crew of 96 people and has an 82-foot swimming pool, two helicopter pads, sauna, gym, beauty salon, 12 suites, and can accommodate 24 guests, among other amenities.

The move by German authorities comes just two days after Usmanov was sanctioned by the EU amid the attacks by Russia on Ukraine, according to Forbes.

Usmanov confirmed the sanctions on Tuesday.

“On 28 February 2022 I became the target of restrictive measures imposed by the European Union. I believe that such decision is unfair, and the reasons employed to justify the sanctions are a set of false and defamatory allegations damaging my honor, dignity, and business reputation,” he wrote in a statement posted on the International Fencing Federation website on Tuesday.

Usmanov was not only a supporter of Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, but is accused of being a close ally of Putin, according to the Washington Examiner. His wealth, which is estimated at $14 billion, is believed to be amassed primarily from investments in iron ore, steel and consumer electronics, with smaller deals made in telecom, mining and media companies, Forbes said.

Germany was not the only country to make a Russian ship seizure this week as French authorities also seized the mega-yacht of Russian oligarch Igor Sechin on Thursday morning.

In a tweeted statement that was translated by Reuters, France’s Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said, “Thanks to the French customs officers who are enforcing the European Union’s sanctions against those close to the Russian government.”

The 280-foot Amore Vero yacht was seized in the La Ciotat shipyards on the south coast of France, Reuters reports.

According to the statement from Le Maire, the Amore Vero arrived in La Ciotat on Jan. 3 and was slated to remain in the shipyard until April 1 for repairs. The vessel was set to cast off when authorities began their check of the ship, finding an infraction of customs codes with its departure attempt, according to Le Maire.

Sechin is listed as a Russian oligarch who is subject to EU sanctions as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. He is a former deputy prime minister of Russia and has been the CEO of Rosneft, the Russian state oil company, since 2012, according to CNBC.

EU sanction documents obtained by CNBC say that Sechin is also one of Putin’s “most trusted and closest advisors, as well as his personal friend.”

According to CNBC, the sanction documents also go on to outline Sechin’s role with Rosneft Aero, a subsidiary of Rosneft, which delivers jet fuel to the Simferopol Airport, which offers flights from Crimea and Sevastopol and Russia.

The documents say, “Therefore he is supporting the consolidation of the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula into the Russian Federation, which in turn further undermines the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”

French officials valued the Amore Vero at about $115 million, according to VesselValue, as reported by Sky News.

Business Insider said there are at least five other super-yachts owned by Russian billionaires docked or cruising in the Maldives.