Russian Oligarchs' Megayachts Seized Along Italian Riviera

[highplainsdem]

Source: Daily Beast

Italian authorities have seized two yachts belonging to blacklisted Russian oligarchs who had their vessels docked along the Ligurian Coast, according to La Stampa. On Thursday night, the Guardia di Finanza, which enforces the country’s economic and financial laws, took control of billionaire Alexey Mordashov’s 215-foot megayacht “Lady M” in the port of Imperia. Mordashov is a majority owner in energy and mining company Severstal, and is co-owner of Rossiya Bank, also known as “Putin’s Bank.” Next, the Guardia di Finanza seized “Lena,” a yacht owned by energy magnate Gennady Timchenko, a close friend of Vladimir Putin. The crews were not charged with any wrongdoing, according to the outlet.



Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-oligarchs-alexey-mordashov-and-gennady-timchenkos-yachts-seized-along-italian-riviera

[machoneman]

1. Woo-Hoo! Hey, put some artillery on them and attack the Russkie Black Sea Fleet warships!

[trof]

2. Um...how is this 'legal'?

Are there laws governing this?
I mean, I'm all for it, but is there any basis in international law?

[L. Coyote]

4. Yes, of course. This is a matter of national jurisdictions.

You can't confiscate a yacht yourself, but a government can.

You can try, but you'll need a big tugboat.

Link to tweet

[highplainsdem]

5. Civil asset forfeiture. See this link:

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=1acd50be-5237-4ba8-8651-0f6e93748feb

On November 6, 2018, the European Council adopted new regulations designed to streamline cross-border asset seizures. The new regulations, known as the Mutual Recognition of Freezing and Confiscation Orders, create a simplified mechanism for member states to ask fellow nations to freeze or confiscate criminally-derived property.

The new EU Regulations are similar to the American system of civil asset forfeiture. Under the U.S. system, law enforcement officials can seize assets suspected, but not proven, to be linked to criminal activity without requiring an underlying criminal conviction. Perhaps in response to the widespread criticism of the American system, the EU regulations contain safeguards, including the greater use of disinterested judicial officers, to protect individuals against abuses.

[cstanleytech]

3. None of these yachts should never be sold and only returned

if Russia withdraws all its troops from all of the Ukrainian soil and pays reparations to the Ukrainian people.
If the Russians do not do so within the next 5 years the yachts should be scuttled rather than used or resold.

[Pantagruel]

6. Scuttled?

Why waste them. Put a red cross on them and turn them into floating hospitals.
Will be very handy for the coming pestilence, war and anarchic unrest brought on by the climate crisis.

[L. Coyote]

7. I agree, heliports perfect for conflict/disaster zone hospitals. Plus refugees need transportation.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[cstanleytech]

8. Would be a waste of money as in many cases you would have to completely gut them

and even if you did that you risk making to many compromise.
No, if hospital ships are needed its best to simply build a new correctly designed hull rather than waste money rerigging these into hospital ships.
Besides imagine the looks on the faces of Putin and his pals as they watch the video over and over again of their fancy luxury yachts going down.

[thucythucy]

11. Auction them off

to the highest bidder, give the money to Ukraine for military purchases, medical supplies, or reconstruction after the Russians are driven out.

Also: though the crews aren't being charged--and I agree with this--I hope they're being questioned by Italian or US intelligence. They might provide a wealth of information on the characters and habits of owner oligarchs and their buddies, which information might come in handy in the future.

And if for some reason these ships are returned, make sure to fill them with bugs and cameras to provide further intelligence.

[Lonestarblue]

9. I may have missed it, but I've read nothing of any Russian assets being seized in the UK.

And London is awash in Russians and their multitude of homes. Is Boris too afraid of what might be revealed in retaliation if he seizes Russian assets?

[AZLD4Candidate]

12. Yes.

[Mazeltov Cocktail]

10. I read the header as...

Russian Oligarchs' Me gay aches seized...🤪

Cue Rosanne Rossannadana... sorry

[mahina]

13. What ever happened to the beautiful sailboats people used to call yachts?

All these billionaire’s “yachts” are freaking white trash stinkpots. They look like expensive mobile homes that float

[sarcasmo]

14. Italians 2 -- Germany 1 - France 1

[moniss]

15. It would be possible

to load them all with explosives and head them toward Russian ports on auto-pilot. I'm just saying.

[Magoo48]

16. Yes. They should all be turned over to Ukraine to us as they see fit.

Hospitals, troupe movers. Whatever.

[Marcuse]

17. Deploy Diego Garcia assets to the Maldives and Seychelles.

Other countries are imposing similar measures, setting off a global game of hide-and-seek on the high seas as Russian billionaires hastily attempt to move their boats to havens such as the Seychelles and the Maldives, where at least one oligarch-owned super-yacht has already arrived; tracking data show several others on their way.