Russia’s attacks on Ukraine after the start of the February 24 invasion have been harshly condemned by dozens of world leaders and organizations. The sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and the United States not only affect the government of Vladimir Putin, but also the circle of Russian oligarchs close to the Kremlin.
Washington decided to take action against Russian businessmen who violate the sanctions that govern Moscow. Merrick Garland, US Attorney General, stated that no effort will be spared to “investigate, arrest and prosecute all those whose criminal acts allow the Russian government to continue this unjust war”, for which the assets of various oligarchs Russians have been embargoed or frozen.
Joe Biden sanctions Russian banking and expels Russia’s second-highest diplomat in Washington
“We are joining with our European allies to find and seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private planes,” said Joe Biden.the US president, in his first State of the Union address before both houses of the US Congress.
the maldives islands, Previously a tourist destination whose main market was Russian tourists, it has become the place where Russian businessmen go to flee from their country’s sanctions. The yacht “Clio” of Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire and aluminum tycoon, appeared near the capital of Maldives, Malé.
Deripaska’s giant business had previously been sanctioned in 2016 for its alleged interference in the US elections in favor of Donald Trump. The Trump administration lifted sanctions in 2018 after reaching an agreement with the European Union, but the tycoon remains on a blacklist of people close to the Kremlin.
Alexander Abramov’s yacht “Titan” and Vladimir Potanin’s “Nirvana” were also observed off the coast of the archipelago, according to the ‘MarineTraffic’ platform. Abramov is an industrial tycoon and Potanin is the owner of a nickel mining complex in Russia.
The reason why the Russian oligarchs are fleeing to the Maldives may be because of the non-existence of an extradition agreement between this country and the United Statess, so legally you cannot deliver assets to the US, “unless the individual in question is wanted for a criminal investigation or if he is escaping legal punishment,” explains lawyer Mahfooz Saeed to EFE.
Alisher Usmanov is one of the Russian oligarchs and a “possible figurehead” for Vladimir Putin whose property has been seized. His yacht “Dilbar”, whose value is around 600 million dollars, was detained by the German authorities in Hamburg. The billionaire later released a statement criticizing the “unfairness” of the sanctions and saying they are “a set of false and defamatory allegations.” (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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