US Justice Department Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Russian Oligarch's $300 Million Superyacht for Sanctions Violations

Complaint alleges oligarch Suleiman Kerimov maintained and improved yacht using US financial systems in clear violation of sanctions against him; yacht now under US government control.

The US Justice Department has filed a civil forfeiture complaint against a $300 million superyacht, Motor Yacht Amadea, which is beneficially owned by Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov.
The allegation is that Kerimov improved and maintained the yacht using the US financial systems, a clear violation of sanctions against him and those acting on his behalf.
Kerimov was designated as a Specially Designated National (SDN) under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on April 6, 2018, due to his actions aiding the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. He was redesignated as an SDN on or about September 30, 2022.
Following his designation by OFAC, Kerimov arranged to purchase the superyacht through a series of transfers between shell companies, which were apparently done to hide his ownership of the yacht.
The yacht is currently under the control of the US Government in San Diego, California, after a seizure warrant was issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and enforced by a court order issued by the Republic of Fiji following a request from the United States.

U.S. Department of Justice