A legal battle has ignited in the U.S. over the ownership of the “Amadea,” a luxurious superyacht ensnared in the web of international sanctions against Russian oligarchs. With monthly maintenance costs soaring to $600,000, U.S. authorities are eager to sell the vessel, but its rightful owner remains contentious. The U.S. government seized the $300 million superyacht in Fiji in April 2022 amid allegations that it belonged to Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov.
Bloomberg estimates Kerimov’s wealth at around $9 billion, highlighting his reputed connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The yacht’s confiscation was part of the broader sanctions response to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
Maintaining the 106-meter superyacht, equipped with six decks and a helipad, has become a burdensome expense for U.S. taxpayers. According to Bloomberg, court documents reveal that the crew alone costs $360,000 monthly, with additional expenses for fuel, maintenance, waste disposal, and other necessities bringing the total to a hefty sum. U.S. authorities argue that the financial burden of the yacht’s upkeep should not fall on the public and are seeking court approval in New York to facilitate its sale.
However, the yacht’s ownership is shrouded in complexity. While the U.S. maintains that Kerimov, accused of violating sanctions, is the beneficial owner, Eduard Khudainatov, former CEO of Rosneft, has stepped forward to claim ownership. Khudainatov, who is not under U.S. sanctions, has offered to reimburse the U.S. for the yacht’s maintenance costs, which have already accumulated to approximately $20 million.
This is not Khudainatov’s first entanglement in controversies surrounding oligarch yachts. In 2022, he was implicated in discussions over the ownership of the “Scheherazade,” another mega-yacht with suspected ties to Putin. Khudainatov’s close relations with Rosneft‘s current boss, Igor Sechin, a known Putin ally, further complicates the narrative, fueling suspicions about his role as a possible frontman for concealed assets.
The U.S. alleges that Kerimov has engaged in a series of transactions through shell companies to hide his wealth, asserting that he is indeed “Amadea’s” true owner. As the legal tug-of-war unfolds, the fate of the “Amadea” hangs in the balance, encapsulating the intricate dance of diplomacy, wealth, and sanctions on the global stage.
