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The 106-meter (348 ft) superyacht Amadea, seized from a Russian oligarch, is now being auctioned by the U.S. Marshals Service, with bidding open until September 10th. The auction represents a significant step in the U.S. government’s efforts to enforce sanctions against individuals linked to the Russian government following the invasion of Ukraine.
(Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
SAN DIEGO,CA – August 29,2023 – The U.S. government is auctioning off the $300 million superyacht Amadea, previously linked to Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, in a sealed-bid sale concluding September 10th at 11:00 AM Pacific time. The auction is being managed by Fraser Yachts, with bidding taking place online at amadeaauction.com/.
kerimov,sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2018, was designated a “specially designated national” due to allegations of money laundering connected to the acquisition of properties in France, including villas in the French Riviera. The treasury Department asserts Kerimov directly benefited from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime and actively supported Russia’s “malign activities,” including the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The Amadea’s journey to auction began with its seizure in Fiji in April 2022, following a legal battle and international cooperation. The yacht, flagged in the Cayman Islands, arrived in san Diego in June 2022.the U.S. government’s pursuit of the vessel was elaborate by ownership claims, with Eduard Khudainatov, a former chairman of Rosneft, asserting ownership. U.S. prosecutors allege Khudainatov
