Washington wants to confiscate two Abramovich planes
Multi-billionaire Abramovich has been under pressure since the start of the Ukraine war. Because of its proximity to the Kremlin, the United States now wants to arrest its private planes. He is also said to have violated sanctions.
US justice has ordered the confiscation of two planes owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The US Department of Justice justified the measure in court documents published on Monday by saying that the machines were used to violate the Russia sanctions imposed because of the Ukraine war. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and the Gulfstream G650ER business jet flew to Russia in violation of the sanctions requirements.
The Justice Department estimates the value of the two planes at a total of $400 million. However, the planes are apparently out of reach of the US authorities. According to media reports, the Gulfstream G650ER is said to be in Russia, the Boeing machine possibly in Dubai.
US Department of Justice wants to take action
The US Department of Justice will take “active steps” to confiscate the two planes, Department Representative Andrew Adams said in New York. According to him, the measure aims to induce people with close ties to the Kremlin to “distance” from the Moscow power center and from the Russian state.
Parallel to the Justice Department’s order, the US Commerce Department released a letter formally accusing Abramovich of intentionally violating US restrictions on the export of technology and goods to Russia. These allegations can result in large fines. The maximum amount of the fee is twice the value of the aircraft, it said.
Abramovich under pressure since the beginning of the war
The Russian oligarch is said to have close ties to Vladimir Putin. The Western sanctions because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine had massive consequences for Abramovich, especially in Great Britain.
All of his assets were frozen there. London football club Chelsea, which he had owned for almost 20 years, is being taken over by a group of investors led by US businessman Todd Boehly.
