A United States judge has ruled that a former leader of a major Russian oil and gas company does not have a valid claim to a $300 million superyacht seized by U.S. authorities in 2022. This decision is a victory for the U.S. Justice Department, which has been working to take control of the luxury vessel. The ruling increases the chances that the massive yacht, named Amadea, could soon be sold at auction.
The legal fight over the 348-foot-long yacht began when the former oil executive stated that he was its rightful owner. However, U.S. prosecutors argued that he was simply a “straw owner,” meaning someone who pretends to own something on behalf of someone else. They claimed that the real owner was a wealthy businessman who has been under U.S. sanctions for several years. The court sided with the prosecutors, dismissing the oil executive’s claims as unconvincing.
The superyacht, which features extravagant amenities and luxurious interiors, is currently docked in San Diego. While the legal battle has been ongoing, the U.S. government has been paying around $600,000 each month to maintain the yacht. Now, with the latest court decision, federal prosecutors can continue their efforts to permanently seize and potentially sell the vessel.
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Yacht’s True Ownership Under Scrutiny
The former oil executive, who led the Russian state-run oil company from 2010 to 2013, filed legal documents in late 2023 to stop the U.S. from taking permanent control of the yacht. He insisted that he was the true owner and that the U.S. had no right to seize it.
However, the U.S. government argued that he was merely acting as a front for another individual—a billionaire with strong connections to the Russian government. This billionaire, according to prosecutors, had been using the Amadea for personal vacations, including trips across the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Furthermore, the U.S. Treasury Department had previously placed sanctions on the billionaire for his involvement in Russian activities in Ukraine and Syria.
To prove their case, U.S. prosecutors pointed to a 2021 payment of €225 million (about $243 million) made by the billionaire’s niece to a company controlled by the former oil executive. This, they argued, showed that the oil executive was only a figurehead while the billionaire and his family enjoyed full use of the yacht. The billionaire had also reportedly paid over $1 million for maintenance on the vessel, further linking him to its ownership.
The former oil executive’s lawyer fought back, stating that there was no concrete evidence tying the billionaire to the yacht. He claimed that no witnesses had come forward to confirm the U.S. government’s allegations. But despite these arguments, the judge was not convinced and ruled against the oil executive, allowing the U.S. government to move forward with its plans.
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Changing Political Landscape and Sanctions Enforcement
The seizure of the Amadea took place during a period when the U.S. government was ramping up sanctions enforcement against individuals closely linked to the Russian leadership. At the time, efforts were being made to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine. The Amadea was one of the most high-profile assets seized by U.S. authorities as part of these efforts.
Since then, however, the political landscape has shifted. A special U.S. task force responsible for going after Russian oligarchs was disbanded earlier this year. This change followed a shift in Washington’s approach to dealing with Russia and Ukraine. In recent weeks, U.S. officials have also cut back on military aid to Ukraine, marking a significant departure from the previous administration’s stance.
Despite these changes, the legal process surrounding the Amadea has continued. The court’s latest ruling ensures that U.S. authorities can keep the yacht and proceed with efforts to seize it permanently. Whether the vessel will be sold to a new owner remains to be seen, but for now, the legal battle over its ownership appears to have come to an end.
