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Britain announced today that it has seized the first superyacht in its waters as part of sanctions against Russia.
The € 50 million yacht seized is called ‘Phi’, but authorities did not identify the owner, saying only that it was owned by a Russian businessman.
British Transport Minister Grant Shapps said: “The individual in question is not among those sanctioned but has close ties to President Vladimir Putin.”
Britain has imposed a series of sanctions on Russia since launching the offensive against Ukraine, seizing assets and businesses of Russian individuals.
The 60-meter-long yacht Phi was initially identified as Russian-owned since the beginning of March, according to authorities, but its ownership according to them was being kept deliberately secret.
Officials said the company is registered in the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Nevis but carried a Maltese flag to hide its origins.
The British Ministry did not answer for the reasons why it did not name the owner of the yacht, although some journalists suggested that “they were not sure who it belonged to”.
But Minister Shapps said the move was “a clear warning to Putin and his followers.”
“At the moment the vehicle is not going anywhere, because people who have benefited from the Putin regime can not sail through London or Britain on ships like this,” he said.
Amid investigations into the matter, a network reported that the boat was built by the Dutch group Royal Huismandescribes, which named it after the “Golden Report” physical concept to show its perfection.
The blue yacht is said to have an endless wine cellar and a swimming pool with fresh water.
British officials boarded the Phi aboard today at London’s Canary Wharf water park, where the yacht had attended a yacht ceremony and was to leave again.
The US and EU have also seized superyachts linked to Russian-sanctioned individuals as they try to detain others outside their borders in exclusive tourist areas.
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