Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to the Daily Star’s newsletter
We have more newsletters
A multi-million pound superyacht left abandoned in the Caribbean and believed to be owned by a Russian oligarch is about to be auctioned off.
Authorities from Antigua and Barbuda have given the owner of The Alfa Nero just 10 days to claim the vessel before it is sold to the highest bidder.
It has sat abandoned since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and a raft of sanctions was slapped on wealthy members of Russian society by Western economies.
READ MORE: Hunt for National Lottery millionaire narrowed to UK town as deadline approaches
The boat was picked up for $120 million (around £99.7m) in 2014, but now authorities of the island nation think it has become a hazard for shipping routes, having fallen out of repair.
It listed the ship, which is now expected to be sold for $81 million (£67 million), as a "blocked property".
A sales notice was put in the media and from that point, its owner had 10 days to claim it before the auction can go ahead.
The whopping ship is able to host 12 guests in six staterooms with 28 crew onboard, BOAT International reports.
The publication also posted photos of the massive ship, showing it with an infinity swimming pool, helipad and gym.
It also has its own jet skis stowed away and is believed to come complete with a dance floor.
Russian oligarch Andrey Guryev has been linked to the ship according to the US Treasury, which has labelled him a "close associate" of the Russian president and dictator Vladimir Putin.
He is understood to have worked as part of the Russian government until 2013.
Sanctions were slapped on oligarch Guryev by the US in August 2022, the UK in April, and the EU in March 2022.
According to Bloomberg, Guryev has a net worth of $10.1 billion (£ 8.8 billion), making him one of the wealthiest individuals from Russia.
-
Runaway aristocrat's life on estate with rich dad who shaved head after epiphany
The Guardian has previously reported that Guryev has denied being the massive boat’s owner.
Sanctions surrounding Russian oligarchs continue across a mass of assets believed to belong to the eastern country's superwealthy.
Efforts were made in a bid to limit Russia's economy from functioning effectively while it waged a war with Ukraine.
However, over a year into the conflict, it remains unclear whether the sanctions have had the desired effect so desperately hoped for by leading Western politicians.
Despite the success of the sanctions remaining unclear, tensions inside Russia may well still be mounting, with increasing reports of tensions between leading members of Russia's government.
Perhaps the most high profile of these surrounds Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the controversial mercenary group Wagner, which has played an active part in the conflict on Ukraine's frontlines.
The group has recently opened more than 40 new recruitment centres in cities across Russia amid criticism from Prighozin himself aimed at the Russian army's top brass.
He has claimed that his forces have not been provided with the necessary equipment and support from the regular army to complete its objectives in the warzone.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
READ NEXT:
Man bags £180k lottery win after 'accident' meant he didn't buy ticket day before
Bloke sues man who won £1.7bn lottery jackpot over claims winning ticket was 'stolen'
Lucky bloke wins £30k on lottery – turns up to collect cheque in blazer of dollar bills
Bloke uncovers winning £55,000 EuroMillions ticket while getting car ready for valet
EuroMillions pair won £148m jackpot before splitting in two-year rollercoaster
- Vladimir Putin
- Net Worth
- Russia
- Money
Source: Read Full Article