US trying to seize superyacht from Fiji

The United States is trying to seize a superyacht suspected of belonging to a Russian oligarch in Fiji, according to a restraining order filed by Fiji's director of public prosecutions.

The Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov is a well-known Russian oligarch, which is sanctioned by the United States and the European Union.

The vessel arrived in Fiji a week ago after leaving Mexico 18 days earlier and crossing the Pacific.

Russian billionaires have seized luxury vessels and villas in various countries as part of sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Christopher Pryde, Fiji's director of public prosecutions, filed an application to the High Court in order to prevent the Amadea from leaving Fiji.

The application requested that the Amadea motor yacht be rerained from leaving Fijian waters until the finalization of an application to register a warrant to seize the property and iii, a US warrant to seize the Amadea was registered. The US embassy did not respond to a request for comment, but last week said the United States is committed to finding and seizing the assets of the oligarchs who supported the Russian Federation's brutal, unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine.

A superyacht agent in Fiji, acting for the Amadea, told Reuters last week that the vessel's lawyers were contesting that Mr Kerimov was the owner.

The registration records viewed by Reuters show that the yacht is registered to a company in the Cayman Islands.

A spokeswoman for Fiji's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the vessel's legal ownership remains subject to an investigation.

In 2018 and 2014, Kerimov was sanctioned by the United States in response to Russia's actions in Syria and Ukraine.