At Least 5 Russian Billionaires’ Yachts Are Now in Maldives: Report

• Extra Russian-owned superyachts are making their method to the Maldives amid sweeping Western sanctions.
• The Maldives doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the US.
• A minimum of 5 superyachts belonging to Russian billionaires are anchored or cruising round Maldives.

A minimum of 5 superyachts belonging to Russian billionaires are anchored or cruising across the Maldives, Reuters reported, citing ship-tracking information.

The vessels’ arrival within the space comes as sweeping sanctions hit Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. The US Justice division on Wednesday launched the Job Pressure KleptoCapture to grab property belonging to sanctioned Russian people.

The Maldives, an Indian Ocean island nation, doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the US.

Among the many superyachts round nation are the 238-foot Clio, in keeping with Reuters, citing delivery database MarineTraffic. The vessel is owned by Oleg Deripaska, who based aluminum big Rusal. It was anchored off the Maldivian capital of Male on Wednesday, per Reuters.

The Nirvana superyacht, owned by Vladimir Potanin, can be cruising in waters off the Maldives, in keeping with MarineTraffic.

In keeping with a Bloomberg evaluation, the 4 greatest luxurious yachts presently within the Maldives are owned by Russians. They embrace the 459-foot Ocean Victory, which belongs to metal magnate Viktor Rashnikov.

Russians personal about 7% to 10% of all superyachts on the earth, in keeping with business publication Superyacht Information.

The superyachts’ journey to the Maldives comes as Germany seized a superyacht owned by EU-sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov on Wednesday, in keeping with Forbes, citing three business sources. It is the primary superyacht owned by a Russian tycoon seized since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

The Maldives authorities didn’t instantly reply to Insider’s request for remark.