Italy seizes $700M luxury yacht from Russian oligarch linked to Putin's 'inner circle'

Italy has seized world's biggest and most expensive yacht, an estimated $700 million worth luxury yacht linked to Russian President Vlimir Putin. In an announcement on Friday, Italian authorities said that y confiscated luxurious six-deck Scheheraze after it was spotted sailing from port of Marina di Carrara.

Rome’s authorities furr informed that vast yacht consists of two helicopter landing ps, 22 cabins, a full spa and an indoor pool that doubles as a dance floor. It is speculated to be owned by Moscow’s former chief of Russian energy giant Rosneft Eduard Khudainatov.

'Prominent element' linked to luxury yacht is Putin: US

In official statement released to Italian press, authorities did not name ex-chief of Russian energy giant but only said that yacht was linked to “prominent elements of Russian government.”

That “prominent element” is Putin, United States officials told American newspaper New York times, that sought comments on recent seizure.

Italian finance ministry said in a statement that it established via an investigation that owner of luxury boat has an association with Vlimir Putin. boat is also linked to entities that have been listed in European Union’s sanctions. vessel h first arrived in Italy back in September, and h activity ongoing at dockside that suggested that its crew “might be preparing it to put to sea.”

Italy’s finance ministry has also asked European Union to include owner of yacht to sanctions list as he belongs to “inner circle” of Russian President Putin. In a recorded video dress in March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy h asked EU nations as well as Italian officials to seize Scheheraze yacht and or luxury ships linked to Russian oligarchs, who, he said, fuel war in his country via funding. United States has also seized multiple luxury boats in Gibraltar that are linked with Russian oligarchs.

Last month, Biden ministration seized a $90 million yacht owned by a Russian oligarch with close ties to Vlimir Putin in Spain. A 255-foot yacht Tango, owned by Viktor Vekselberg, was confiscated while it was docked at Marina Real in Mediterranean port of Palma de Mallorca. US authorities got warrant from a federal judge in Washington and seized yacht. Vekselberg, 64, h bought luxury yacht in 2011 according to US, and is worth $5.7 billion.