Protestors block Roman Abramovich’s £430m superyacht Solaris with ‘No War’ Ukrainian flags on tiny inflatable boat as it docks in Turkey where government is refusing to join anti-Russian sanctions
- Protesters in a small inflatable boat tried to stop Roman Abramovich’s superyacht from docking in Turkey
- The Russian oligarch’s £430m boat, Solaris, travelled from Montenegro to avoid it potentially being seized
- Turkey has closed the Turkish Straits to most Russian warships but has not imposed any sanctions on Russia
Protestors in a tiny inflatable dinghy got in the way of a yacht belonging to sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich as it docked in Turkey’s Aegean Sea resort of Bodrum.
The Bermuda-flagged luxury yacht Solaris docked at the southern port in Turkey – which has not joined sanctions on Russia – after departing from Montenegro.
A group of Ukrainians carrying Ukrainian flags with the words ‘No War’ emblazoned on them boarded a small motor boat and tried to prevent the yacht from docking.
Roman Abramovich’s ship £430million Solaris was blocked by protestors today, who in a small boat who were holding protest flags, as it tried to dock in the Turkish resort town of Bodrum
Despite the protestors, the oligarch’s superyacht was able dock safely in Turkey – a country which so far has not imposed any sanctions on Russia
The Chelsea Football Club owner was seen in Tel Aviv airport earlier this month on his way to Istanbul, as the EU decided to follow the UK and sanction him
Abramovich is worth up to £12billion and owns a £150m Kensington mansion, a £22m penthouse, and more than £1.2bn of yachts, private jets, helicopters and supercars based in Britain and around the world
It was not known if Mr Abramovich was aboard the yacht or if it was definitely moved to Turkey to avoid sanctions.
Last week, the European Union imposed sanctions on Mr Abramovich as it updated a list of individuals facing asset freezes and travel bans over their ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government, which has sent the Russian military to invade Ukraine.
Montenegro is not in the EU, although it is expected to join in 2025, and the port of Tivat was being used by several Russian superyacht owners.
The country then signed up to EU sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, possibly putting Solaris at risk of being seized if it had stayed in the port.
Nato-member Turkey has close ties to both Russia and Ukraine. It has criticised Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine but has also positioned itself as a neutral party trying to mediate between the two.
Turkey has closed the Turkish Straits connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea to most Russian warships but has not imposed sanctions on Russia or shut down its airspace to Russian flights.
Last week, Mr Abramovich arrived in Istanbul from Jerusalem aboard his private jet before departing for Moscow the next morning.
The enormous yacht is registered in the British overseas territory of Bermuda, which means it flies Bermuda’s version of the historic Red Ensign flag – featuring the Union Jack in a top corner
Data from a shipping tracker website Marine Traffic shows the route Abramovich’s superyacht took today en-route to Bodrum, Turkey, dodging Greek waters around the islands of Rhodes, Simi and Kos
Abramovich’s risks having his yachts seized if they stray in to a nation’s waters that has sanctions against him
The yacht My Axioma reportedly owned by Dmitry Pumpyansky (pictured in Gibraltar) has apparently been detained
Ambramovich is not the only Russian oligarch to have his superyacht’s targeted.
Today the ‘Axioma’, a 72-metre vessel believed to be owned by Dmitrievich Pumpyansky – the owner of steel group TMK, was seized while it was moored in Gibraltar.
Alexei Mordashov, reported to be Russia’s richest man, had a yacht of his seized by Italy.
His 215 ft yacht, the ‘Lady M’, which had a price tag of 65million euros was impounded earlier this month.
Italian police have sequestered villas and yachts worth more than 780million euros from several rich Russians who were placed on a European Union sanctions lists.
The most valuable asset seized so far is a superyacht owned by billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko, which is worth around 530 million euros and was impounded in the northern port of Trieste.
French authorities seized a 280-foot yacht called ‘True Love’ linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch Igor Sechin.
Marine Traffic data suggests ‘the Graceful,’ Putin’s alleged yacht, left Germany two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.
While Vagit Alekperov, president, chief executive and the largest shareholder of Russian oil company Lukoil, had his $83 million superyacht docked in the same port as Roman Abramovich in Montenegro.
But he moved it in less than a day, when the country announced sanctions.
Iced out! Roman Abramovich’s $50M Aspen mega-mansion – and a $11.8M guest house – may be his first assets frozen by the White House as officials look to finally levy sanctions against the Russian billionaire
- Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich’s luxe properties in Colorado are among the assets that could be frozen if he is sanctioned by the U.S. government, experts say
- The billionaire businessman has been hit by EU and UK sanctions, but has not yet been hit by the U.S.
- Abramovich’s 14,000-square-foot mega-home in Snowmass, Colorado – just outside of Aspen – is worth an estimated $50M and is a prime target for sanctions, along with a smaller $11.8M property
- US officials haven’t made any indications about the properties
- CNBC reports that the properties were purchased and still remain in Abramovich’s name, which makes it easier for the U.S. government to freeze – though officials would not be able to seize ownership
- Experts tell CNBC that the only way the government can take the property is if they prove Abramovich has committed a U.S. crime
- On Friday, Abramovich’s $65 Gulfstream jet with the tail sign LX-RAY was targeted by the U.S.
- Along with 99 Boeing jets, the Commerce Department said it was in breach of export controls and warned contractors against refueling or repairing the plane
- This means the jet is unable to make international trips, the department said
- Abramovich has put the Chelsea Football Club up for sale, and staff are said to have been ready for viewings at his 15-bedroom $195 million in London
By ANDREA CAVALLIER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and WIRES
Two multimillion dollar mega-properties in Colorado that are owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich are prime targets to be frozen by the U.S. government if the billionaire is finally sanctioned by the White House, according to experts.
Abramovich has been sanctioned in the UK and Canada in response to the war in Ukraine – but not in the European Union or the U.S. as of Monday morning.
The White House will make a decision in the coming days about whether or not to include Abramovich in its next round of sanctions, according to CNBC. If sanctioned, it’s likely that Abramovich’s two properties in Colorado would be the first to go.
The Russian billionaire’s sleek 14,000-square-foot modern mega-home is perched nearly 1,000 feet above and secluded at the end of a remote road on 200 acres near Snowmass, Colorado, just outside of Aspen. He purchased the home in 2008 for $36.5 million – though its value is now an estimated $50 million.
The home was designed by New York-based Voorsanger Architects. Its steel folded-plate roof has been compared to a giant wing, which was designed for heavy snow load to protect the driveway below, CNBC reported.
Inside, the home boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of Capitol Peak, Mount Daly, the Roaring Fork Valley and Aspen. A 12-foot moss rock wall divides the east and west wings.
Abramovich also owns another property just down the narrow mountain road, a 5,500-square-foot chalet-style home in Snowmass Village, which CNBC reports he purchased in 2008 for $11.8 million.
This smaller property, which is next to the ski slopes, is thought to serve as a guest or caretaker’s house, local brokers said.
CNBC reports that the properties in Snowmass were purchased and still remain in Abramovich’s name, which makes it easier for the U.S. government to freeze – though authorities would not be able to seize ownership unless they can prove Abramovich has committed a U.S. crime, experts said.
Abramovich’s sleek 14,000-square-foot modern mega-home is perched nearly 1,000 feet above and secluded at the end of a remote road on 200 acres near Snowmass, Colorado, just outside of Aspen. He purchased the home in 2008 for $36.5 million – though its value is now an estimated $50 million
Abramovich also owns another property just down the narrow mountain road, a 5,500-square-foot chalet-style home in Snowmass Village, which CNBC reports he purchased in 2008 for $11.8 million
CNBC reports that the properties in Snowmass were purchased and still remain in Abramovich’s name, which makes it easier for the U.S. government to freeze – though authorities would not be able to seize ownership unless they can prove Abramovich has committed a U.S. crime, experts said
Abramovich also owns several New York properties, most notably a stretch of townhomes in the city’s Upper East Side, which he began acquiring in 2014 for a total of $90 million.
He owns four buildings on one block of East 75th Street, three of which he plans to consolidate into one massive mansion of 31,500 square feet, according to the New York Post.
The mega home of three townhomes combined, estimated value at $74 million, would boast five bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, an indoor/outdoor pool, various staircases, and a primary suite that nearly takes up an entire floor. The fourth home at 15 East 75th is valued at $16.5 million.
Abramovich also owns several New York properties, most notably a stretch of townhomes in the city’s Upper East Side, which he began acquiring in 2014 for a total of $90 million
He owns four buildings on one block of East 75th Street, three of which he plans to consolidate into one massive mansion of 31,500 square feet, according to the New York Post
Last week, the U.S. moved to prevent one of Abramovich’s private jets from making international flights, along with 99 Boeing aircraft that are believed to violate U.S. export controls.
As part of its sanctions on Russia and the wealthy elite surround President Vladimir Putin, the Biden administration has already banned Russian aircraft from its airspace.
Now the U.S. Commerce Department will use export control measures to warn companies around the world they face jail time or fines if they provide refueling, maintenance services or spare parts to the planes.
The list of 100 aircraft includes 99 Boeing airplanes operated by Russian passenger and cargo carriers including Aeroflot, AirBridge Cargo, Utair, Nordwind, Azur Air and Aviastar-TU, as well as Abramovich’s $65 million Gulfstream G650, which is believed to still be in Moscow.
Abramovich’s Gulfstream heads the list of 100 sanctioned planes issued by the Department of Commerce on Friday. Officials said it effectively means it cannot leave Russia
It is the latest blow to the 55-year-old billionaire, who made his fortune buying up discounted state assets after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
He has been hit by a string of sanctions in the U.K. and E.U. thanks to his close relationship with Putin, and scrambled to divest before the asset freeze hit.
He put Chelsea Football Club up for sale, and staff are said to have been ready for viewings at his 15-bedroom $195 million (£150m) mansion at Kensington Palace Gardens, London, and a three-story penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront.
Along with other oligarchs, he has seen his world turned upside down since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and the West launched an economic stranglehold on Moscow.
U.S. lawmakers had also stepped up calls for Washington to add its weight to the pressure on Abramovich.
‘We request that Abramovich be sanctioned as a matter of urgency,’ wrote members of Congress.
‘His blood money helps fuel Putin’s unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine.’
It came after investigators at State Street bank in Boston claimed that more than a billion dollars of his in cash had been funnelled through offshore companies into the US from 2001 to 2016, BuzzFeed News reported.
On Friday U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimando said: ‘Today, the Department of Commerce is demonstrating the power and reach of the actions we took over the past few weeks in response to Russia’s brutal war of choice against Ukraine.’
‘We are publishing this list to put the world on notice – we will not allow Russian and Belarusian companies and oligarchs to travel with impunity in violation of our laws.’
The department published specific tail numbers of the planes, including 33 Boeing planes operated by Aeroflot , and 12 Boeing 747 cargo planes operated by AirBridge Cargo, a unit of Volga-Dnepr Group.
Aeroflot, AirBridge and a spokesman for Abramovich, who has put his football club Chelsea up for sale, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The United States, Canada and much of Europe have barred Russian planes from flying over their airspace, which has forced the cancellation of much of Russia’s international flights.
The rules apply to any U.S. manufactured aircraft or any with more than 25% U.S.-origin controlled content that were re-exported to Russia after the new stringent controls on aviation-related items for Russia took effect on Feb. 24.
Abramovich was among several Russian billionaires added last week to an EU blacklist that already included dozens of wealthy Russians, and EU governments have acted to seize yachts and other luxury assets from them.
World governments are seeking to isolate President Vladimir Putin and his allies over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which the Kremlin calls a ‘special operation’.
Last week, Abramovich flew into Moscow after leaving Istanbul in his private jet. According to flight tracking data it was a second trip by a jet linked to Abramovich between the Turkish city and the Russian capital in three days.
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