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Roman Abramovich’s yachts sail into Turkish squall over sanctions

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Breaking news, second roman abramovich superyacht docks in sanctions-free turkey.

A second superyacht linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich docked in a Turkish resort on Tuesday, and sources familiar with the discussions said he and other wealthy Russians were looking to invest in Turkey given sanctions elsewhere.

Western governments have targeted Abramovich and several other Russian oligarchs with sanctions as they seek to isolate President Vladimir Putin and his allies over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

While strongly criticizing the invasion, Turkey has said it opposes sanctions imposed by its NATO allies on principle.

That could set it up as a possible safe haven for Russians seeking to make investments and preserve assets.

Eclipse, which is one of the world’s biggest yachts at 162.5 meters (533 feet), docked in the resort of Marmaris in southwest Turkey after skirting Greek islands, according to a Reuters witness and tracking data. It sails under a Bermuda flag.

The vessel is reported to have two helipads, nine decks, a swimming pool and built-in missile defenses.

Solaris, another superyacht linked to Abramovich, arrived a day earlier in the resort of Bodrum some 80 km (50 miles) away, after having also avoided the waters of European Union countries that have sanctioned the oligarchs.

They are among a string of yachts owned by Abramovich, according to reports in luxury goods publications SuperYachtFan, SuperYacht and Forbes.

Abramovich, the owner of English football club Chelsea , was in Istanbul briefly last week, according to flight tracking data and people familiar with the travels. There was no indication he was aboard either yacht.

A source in Ankara with knowledge of recent conversations with Abramovich said he and other wealthy Russians were looking to invest in Turkey given the sanctions imposed elsewhere.

“He wants to do some work and may buy some assets,” the source said, adding that the oligarch already had some assets in Turkey. The source did not give details.

Another source in Ankara said Turkey was not currently considering joining sanctions action and expected wealthy Russians to purchases assets and make investments.

“We act sensitively on issues such as bringing the oligarchs’ money to Turkey,” the person said.

A spokesperson for Abramovich did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The foreign and interior ministries did not immediately comment on whether Western governments had requested that Turkey seize sanctioned assets. Last week, the banking regulator told Reuters it was monitoring sanctions applied on Russia but had not instructed banks to limit citizens of any country.

Boat protesters

A small group of people on a motor boat protested in front of Solaris as it docked, holding Ukrainian flags emblazoned with the words “no war,” footage shared by the expat association “Ukrainians in Bodrum” showed.

With the arrival of Eclipse and Solaris, Abramovich has for now stationed upwards of $1.2 billion of his fortune in Turkey, with each vessel estimated to be worth $600 million or more. Russian-linked yachts are stuck in several countries including Italy, Spain and Germany.

Sanctions are delicate for Turkey, which has close trade and diplomatic links with both Russia and Ukraine. Critics of President Tayyip Erdogan’s government have said the balancing act could leave it vulnerable internationally.

“The anchoring in Turkish marinas of yachts embargoed in European countries may leave Turkey in a difficult situation in the international arena,” Utku Cakirozer, an MP from the main opposition CHP party, told Reuters.

After meeting Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he supported Turkey’s role in maintaining dialogue with both Ukraine and Russia.

“Turkey is doing everything that it can do. It is one of the few open lines we have with both,” he told a news conference.

“We would very much favor for Turkey to implement all the sanctions but I think we also have to be happy with the fact that Turkey is playing its diplomatic role.”

Russia calls its invasion a “special military operation” aimed at disarming Ukraine and removing what it says are dangerous nationalists in government. Ukraine and Western allies say that is a false pretext for an unprovoked war.

Turkey has sought to mediate a ceasefire and peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.

The 140-meter (460-foot) Solaris, which also sails under a Bermuda flag, remained moored in Bodrum on Tuesday, a week after it left Montenegro’s Adriatic resort town of Tivat.

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Roman Abramovich's superyacht Solaris heads for Turkey as oligarch Chelsea owner gets assets out of Europe

One of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's superyachts, Solaris, is heading for Turkey, while a second, Eclipse, is off the coast off Algeria. Another Russian oligarch, Andrey Melnichenko, recently had a £444m superyacht seized by Italian authorities as part of EU sanctions.

By Jason Farell, Sky News correspondent, in Istanbul

Thursday 17 March 2022 10:44, UK

Roman Abramovich appears to be on a mission to get his assets out of Europe as sanctions tighten.

His superyacht Solaris, worth £430m, is heading south, apparently towards Turkey , after docking in Montenegro on Sunday. Previously, it had been at a repair yard in Barcelona - and had it remained there it might well have been seized by now.

Abramovich has been named on the fourth package of European Union sanctions that will see assets frozen for those Russian super rich considered to be linked to President Vladimir Putin.

Follow live updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Due to sanctions passed last week, any cash or property the Chelsea FC owner holds in the UK are now frozen. His shares on the London stock exchange cannot be sold and won't pay dividends, and he can no longer benefit from the planned £3bn sale of the club. He is also banned from entering the UK.

Abramovich's journey back to Russia

Abramovich's second superyacht, Eclipse, is off the coast of Algeria. Its closest European port is Italy - where another oligarch, Andrey Melnichenko, recently had a £444m superyacht seized by authorities as part of EU sanctions.

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On Sunday night, Abramovich made a whistle-stop trip to Israel, where he is a citizen. Israel currently has no sanctions on Russian oligarchs, and the billionaire owns property in the country.

He was photographed at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport on Monday afternoon before flying for a brief stop in Istanbul; Turkey is another possible safe destination for Russian money. From Istanbul his private Gulfstream G650ER jet - registration LX-Ray - flew to Moscow in the early hours of Tuesday morning .

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Turkish businessman Muhsin Bayrak claims to have met Abramovich, last week, to discuss buying Chelsea. A spokesperson for Mr Bayrak says another meeting was planned later this week.

Despite the British government freezing £3.2bn of his UK assets, including the west London club, it is thought Abramovich could still play a role in the sale, but only on the basis that he does not personally profit from it.

It is not clear whether Mr Bayrak, who made his money in energy, real estate, and cryptocurrency, has the funds to make the purchase.

What is happening with the Chelsea sale?

The British government is open to a sale and wishes to minimalise impact on the club and its fans, but Chelsea is required to approach the government with a proposal before a new licence is granted. Its primary condition is that Abramovich does not financially benefit from any sale.

Read more: How sanctions on Abramovich will affect Chelsea fans

Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale on 2 March, pledging to write off £1.5bn of debt and to divert all proceeds to a new foundation to benefit victims of the war in Ukraine .

The government sanctioned him, claiming to have proved his direct links to Mr Putin's regime. Abramovich has always denied any association.

On Tuesday, a further 370 new sanctions were announced by the UK government - bringing the total to more than 1,000 individuals, entities and subsidiaries now under the Russia sanctions regime since the invasion of Ukraine.

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Nigel Huddleston, the minister for sport, told a committee of MPs: "We are working with Chelsea and the fans that the measures we have put in place primarily impact Roman Abramovich and make sure he does not benefit, whilst making sure that where possible we can reduce the impact on the fans and make sure Chelsea can still continue.

"Can the government allow an entity to fail? Yes, it can, whether it's sport or football or anything else, but what we want to do is make sure the impact of sanctions hits those we want."

Looking to the future, he told the digital, culture, media and sport select committee: "We do recognise there is a need for further refinement and more robust owners' and directors' tests and the integrity element of that is something that is being pushed."

In other developments:

• More than 100,000 Britons register interest to house Ukrainian refugees • UK announces sanctions against 350 more Russian nationals and entities • UK bans luxury goods exports to Russia and hikes import tariffs on products - including vodka • Briton who travelled to warzone to join military fight against Russia leaves over 'suicide mission' fears • Employee interrupts Russian news programme with anti-war slogan

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Chelsea owner Abramovich's second yacht also docks in Turkey

Turkish media reports say a second superyacht belonging to chelsea soccer club owner and sanctioned russian oligarch roman abramovich has docked in a resort in southwestern turkey, article bookmarked.

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A second superyacht belonging to Chelsea soccer club owner and sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has docked in a resort in southwestern Turkey — a country which is not applying sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine , Turkish media reports said Tuesday.

The private DHA news agency said the Bermuda-registered Eclipse docked at a port in the resort of Marmaris, amid international efforts to freeze assets belonging to top Russian businessmen linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin .

A day earlier, Abramovich’s Bermuda-flagged luxury yacht My Solaris arrived in the nearby resort of Bodrum, triggering a protest by a group of Ukrainians who boarded a small motor boat and tried to prevent the yacht from docking.

Last week, the European Union updated a list of individuals facing asset freezes and travel bans over their ties to the Kremlin and began imposing sanctions on Abramovich. The 55-year-old had already been punished in Britain.

NATO-member Turkey has close ties to both Russia and Ukraine. It has criticized Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine but has also positioned itself as a neutral party trying to mediate between the two.

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Watch CBS News

Russian oligarch stashes second yacht in Turkey, apparently to beat Ukraine-linked sanctions

March 22, 2022 / 7:55 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Ankara, Turkey — A second superyacht belonging to Chelsea soccer club owner and sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has docked in a resort in southwestern Turkey - a country that's not applying sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine , Turkish media reports said Tuesday.

The private DHA news agency said the Bermuda-registered Eclipse docked at a port in the resort of Marmaris amid international efforts to freeze assets belonging to top Russian businessmen linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A day earlier, Abramovich's Bermuda-flagged luxury yacht My Solaris arrived in the nearby resort of Bodrum, triggering a protest by a group of Ukrainians who boarded a small motor boat and tried to prevent the yacht from docking.

Last week, the European Union updated a list of individuals facing asset freezes and travel bans over their ties to the Kremlin and began imposing sanctions on Abramovich. The 55-year-old had already been punished in Britain.

NATO-member Turkey has close ties to both Russia and Ukraine. It has criticized Moscow's invasion of Ukraine but has also positioned itself as a neutral party trying to mediate between the two.

Abramovich announced earlier this month that he's selling the Chelsea club. Abramovich said the sale won't "be fast-tracked but will follow due process" and that the net proceeds will go to victims in Ukraine.

"This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and Club," he said. 

Forbes has valued Abramovich's net worth  at $12.4 billion  while Chelsea was worth an  estimated $3.2 billion  in 2021. The 55-year-old, who was once Russia's richest man, said he will set up a foundation to which net proceeds from the sale will be donated.

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Russian Superyachts Find Safe Haven in Turkey, Raising Concerns in Washington

Turkey’s welcoming ports are symptoms of a much larger problem: evasion of U.S. sanctions against Russia.

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By Elif Ince Michael Forsythe and Carlotta Gall

PORT AZURE, Turkey — On a hot August evening at a marina on Turkey’s southern coast, the crew of the Flying Fox was hard at work, keeping the 446-foot superyacht immaculate for future guests willing to pay $3 million a week. One crew member leaned over the railing at the stern, wiping the highly polished surface next to the ship’s nameplate. Another was busy with a squeegee, cleaning glass.

The Flying Fox, the world’s biggest yacht available for charter, played host last year to Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who skipped the Met Gala in New York to cruise the Mediterranean and enjoy the vessel’s over-the-top amenities: a 4,300-square-foot wellness center with a Turkish bath and a fully equipped beauty spa, among many others.

Then Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, the Flying Fox has been caught up in the dragnet of international sanctions designed to hobble the lifestyles of the oligarchs who help sustain President Vladimir V. Putin’s rule.

Yet, while some superyachts owned by or linked to Russian oligarchs facing sanctions have been seized in ports around the world, the Flying Fox and others caught up in the broader Russia penalties have found safe haven in Turkey, the only NATO member not to impose sanctions on Russia.

The flotilla of Russian superyachts in Turkish waters is raising tensions with the United States, which sees Turkey’s welcoming of the vessels as a symptom of the much larger problem: Russia’s access to Turkey’s financial system, potentially undermining Western sanctions.

Turkey’s strongman leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has criticized Western sanctions against Russia, said in March that Turkey could not impose sanctions because of its energy needs and industry deals. “There is nothing to be done there,” he said.

In all, at least 32 yachts tied to oligarchs and sanctioned entities have sheltered in the country’s waters in recent months, able to move about or moor in its picturesque coves and bays without fear of seizure, according to a New York Times analysis. Ownership records of superyachts for the ultrawealthy are notorious for being hidden behind layers of shell companies. The Times analysis was constructed with news accounts linking Russian oligarchs to particular yachts that were then matched with vessel positions available on commercial sites such as MarineTraffic . In many instances, the yachts were spotted in Turkish waters by a Times reporter.

On Aug. 19, the Treasury Department issued a statement saying that the deputy treasury secretary, Wally Adeyemo, had told a Turkish official that the United States was concerned about Russians using Turkey to evade sanctions.

Three days later, Mr. Adeyemo sent a letter to Turkish business groups warning of penalties if they worked with Russian individuals or entities facing sanctions. Turkish banks, he added, risked losing vital correspondent relationships with global banks — and even access to the U.S. dollar — if they did business with sanctioned Russian banks.

In September, several Turkish banks stopped accepting the Mir payment system — the Russian equivalent of Visa or MasterCard. Their actions came after the United States warned that financial institutions expanding the use of Mir or entering into new agreements risked running afoul of American sanctions against Russia.

Nevertheless, Turkish marinas continue to service sanctioned Russians and their superyachts.

The warm turquoise waters, secluded beaches and trendy establishments of Turkey’s Mediterranean coast have long made it a popular and convenient destination for Russian yacht owners and charterers during the summer. Local restaurant menus are printed in three languages: Turkish, English and Russian.

In June, the Flying Fox was singled out by the United States as “ blocked property ” and its management company, Imperial Yachts, was also sanctioned. Nevertheless, the Flying Fox has been moored since at least May at Port Azure, a marina in the posh resort town of Göcek. Other superyachts there owned by or linked to sanctioned Russians have been cruising from one postcard-worthy cove to another in the area.

The town’s polluted waters are unsuitable for swimming, an attractive feature for superyacht owners because it keeps away crowds and unwanted publicity. And the vessels can easily steam to pristine waters nearby. If the pampered guests have any unfulfilled needs, small boats roam around the harbor, selling groceries, ice cream, Turkish crepes and even massages.

Port Azure, touted as the first “mega-yacht-only marina” in Turkey, was opened last year by STFA, one of Turkey’s biggest conglomerates. The marina , which prides itself on its website as being a “haven” that makes “problems big and small go away,” has hosted at least eight yachts linked to Russian oligarchs or sanctioned companies this past summer, the Times analysis found.

On June 1, a Turkish yacht broker posted on Instagram a video taken at Port Azure showing a lineup of five yachts collectively worth almost $1 billion, including the Flying Fox; the Lana, recently listed at $1.8 million a week for charter by Imperial; and the Galactica Super Nova, linked to Vagit Alekperov, a sanctioned Putin ally, according to news media reports.

As of Oct. 20 there were at least 13 yachts in Turkey linked to sanctions, the Times analysis found. Of those, four were owned by or linked to sanctioned individuals and nine have recently been offered for charter by Imperial, the sanctioned Monaco-based company.

A spokeswoman for Imperial Yachts said that after the firm was sanctioned in June, its clients terminated their contracts with the company and that it “no longer manages or charters” any of the yachts in Turkish waters.

But until late August, Imperial advertised yachts for charter and for sale on its website, including yachts in Turkish waters. After an inquiry by The Times, the listings were removed from Imperial’s website, which now displays only a notice announcing that the company had been sanctioned. The company spokeswoman said that it had “kept its other pages alive as a reflection of its former brand.”

“During the time that the other website pages were visible, Imperial did not engage in any business engagements,” Imperial said in response to emailed questions.

Roman Abramovich, the most visible Russian oligarch recently seen in Turkey, does not use Imperial Yachts to manage the construction of his opulent yachts or staff them after they are put to sea. Four yachts owned by or linked to Mr. Abramovich, who has been sanctioned by Britain and the European Union, the Times analysis shows, were in Turkey in August.

Should the United States choose, it has tools at its disposal to enforce its sanctions on the Russian oligarchs, even if their vessels are in Turkish waters and even if the Turkish government is unwilling to cooperate, said Daniel Tannebaum, a former sanctions official who served at the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

One way, he said, would be to place sanctions on companies that service the oligarchs’ yachts in Turkey — the marinas, caterers and fueling companies. In that case, not just Russian yacht owners but also the many American yacht owners now in Turkish waters would have to take their business elsewhere, while the banks that do business with these companies might close their accounts so as to avoid becoming a target.

Superyachts are a significant source of income for the marinas, as well as other businesses in the area. In one example, Turkish news media outlets reported in April that Mr. Abramovich’s biggest yacht, the 533-foot-long Eclipse, ran up a fuel bill of $1.66 million in the port town of Marmaris. Its tanks took 22 hours to fill.

One of the four superyachts linked to Mr. Abramovich, the 460-foot Solaris, is moored in the Yalıkavak Marina in Bodrum, a trendy resort town in Turkey’s south. While lying idle, it still has 20 crew members who make trips every day to provision it, supply it with water and electricity and dispose of its waste, according to a port employee with direct knowledge of the matter, who spoke anonymously because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.

Solaris also receives a truckload of food every week through a catering company, he said, adding: “Twenty cases of asparagus — what would you do with so much asparagus?”

Yalıkavak is Turkey’s most luxurious marina, with stores like Prada, Louis Vuitton and Valentino on a promenade lined with palm trees overlooking the harbor. At least three yachts recently offered for charter by Imperial, the sanctioned management company, and three other yachts owned by or linked to oligarchs moored at Yalıkavak Marina this summer, the Times analysis shows.

In an emailed statement, the marina said that even though Turkey has not adopted sanctions, because it recognizes “international concerns,” the Solaris has been kept outside the marina’s boundaries. As for the vessels associated with Imperial Yachts, the marina said that it did not know, as the summer is “quite a busy time” and that it didn’t have a system in place to check whether an individual yacht might fall under international sanctions.

In August, the Eclipse, one of the yachts linked to Mr. Abramovich, was anchored in the middle of the bay off Göcek, a three-and-a-half-hour drive down the coast from Yalıkavak.

On an early morning in August, Ömer Kırpat, 56, was fishing on the shore in Göcek, sitting under a willow tree overlooking the yachts.

“The bells aren’t jingling,” he said, pointing to the bells attached to his rods to alert him when the fish bite. He showed his bucket with one lone fish inside, explaining that the fish avoid the shore because of pollution and noise from the boats.

Port Azure, the Göcek marina hosting the Flying Fox, was built over the port of a state-owned paper factory where Mr. Kırpat worked for 13 years as a security guard until it was privatized in 2001. He used to go there to swim, fish and have picnics every weekend with other factory workers and their families. “It was sparkly clean,” he said. “We caught the biggest fish there.”

He tried to go into Port Azure last year but was chased away. “We’re banned,” he said. “Soon they won’t even allow us to look inside. It’s heartbreaking.”

Michael Forsythe is a reporter on the investigations team. He was previously a correspondent in Hong Kong, covering the intersection of money and politics in China. He has also worked at Bloomberg News and is a United States Navy veteran. More about Michael Forsythe

Carlotta Gall is a senior correspondent currently covering the war in Ukraine. She previously was Istanbul bureau chief, covered the aftershocks of the Arab Spring from Tunisia, and reported from the Balkans during the war in Kosovo and Serbia, and from Afghanistan and Pakistan after 2001. She was on a team that won a 2009 Pulitzer Prize for reporting from Afghanistan and Pakistan. More about Carlotta Gall

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Ukraine invasion — explained

The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. The current conflict is more than one country fighting to take over another; it is — in the words of one U.S. official — a shift in "the world order." Here are some helpful stories to make sense of it all.

Ukrainian sailors tried to block a Russian oligarch's yacht from docking in Turkey

Rachel Treisman

A yacht reportedly belonging to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is docked at an Aegean coastal resort in Bodrum, Turkey, on Monday. A group of young Ukrainian sailors had protested its arrival from a small boat. -/Ihlas News Agency/AFP via Getty hide caption

A yacht reportedly belonging to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is docked at an Aegean coastal resort in Bodrum, Turkey, on Monday. A group of young Ukrainian sailors had protested its arrival from a small boat.

Two superyachts linked to Russian oligarch and Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich have reportedly docked in the sanction-free waters of Turkey in recent days, though not without protest.

The Solaris yacht left Montenegro last week and traveled southeast to Turkey, avoiding European waters and arriving at the port city of Bodrum on Monday, Reuters reported , citing shipping data.

Why so many Russian billionaires are called oligarchs

There, the 460-foot yacht was met by a small group of young Ukrainian sailors who tried to block it from reaching the dock. Video footage from the BBC, CNN, SkyNews and others shows people on a small boat, waving Ukrainian flags and chanting "no war in Ukraine."

Güldenay Sonumut, a producer for Sky News, tweeted footage of several people sitting in a boat bobbing in the water, chanting "Go away!" at the massive yacht in front of them.

A tiny team but they made quite some waves. Say hi to the Ukraine National Sailing Youth Team who were not afraid to get on their boat and protest Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich's mega-yacht entering #Bodrum Marina in Turkey. #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineSailingTeam pic.twitter.com/rvQMolAwuC — Güldenay Sonumut (@Guldenay007) March 22, 2022

They have been identified as students of the Odesa Children and Youth Sailing School, also known as the Optimist Sailing Club. The BBC says the team had left Ukraine before Russia invaded last month to compete in an annual competition in Turkey.

Coach Paulo Dontsov told CNN that it was the full team's decision to protest, telling the BBC that their aim was to make supporters of the war uncomfortable. He said the Turkish coast guard eventually arrived and asked the dinghy to move slightly farther away.

A Russian oligarch's superyacht is stuck in Norway because no one will sell it fuel

"We talked with them and they were polite," he added. "They said that they realized why we're doing this, but we should do it with keeping the rules of their country."

Sky News reports that the protesters were temporarily detained after the incident and that Abramovich is not believed to have been on board the yacht at the time.

Sanctions on Russia may limit the number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey

The Solaris is currently docked in Bodrum, according to the tracker Marine Traffic . And a second superyacht linked to Abramovich also arrived in Turkey this week.

Citing Turkish media, ABC News reports that a yacht named Eclipse docked at a port in the resort town of Marmaris on Tuesday. Unnamed sources told Reuters that Abramovich and other wealthy Russians are looking to invest in Turkey amid mounting sanctions from Western countries.

Turkey has criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine but has said it won't introduce sanctions because it sees them as counterproductive.

This story originally appeared on the Morning Edition live blog .

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5 superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs have docked in Turkey, safe from Western sanctions

• Five luxury yachts owned by Russian oligarchs have sailed to Turkey, avoiding Western sanctions.
• The $400 million Flying Fox arrived on Sunday after leaving the Dominican Republic on April 22.
• Turkey has avoided sanctioning Russia, but a lawyer said the yachts could still be seized.

Five superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs are now docked in Turkey in a bid to avoid Western sanctions triggered by the invasion of Ukraine.

Oligarchs have sought to move their assets, such as luxury vessels and private jets, across the world over the possibility of being placed on sanctions lists. Many chose Turkey because it is yet to sanction Russia for its aggression.

Dmitry Kamenshchik, chairman of Moscow's Domodedovo airport, owns a $400 million yacht called the Flying Fox that arrived in Bodrum, Turkey, on Sunday morning, according to ship-tracking site Marine Traffic .

The vessel left the Dominican Republic on April 22 after being investigated by the US over accusations of money laundering and arms trafficking, local newspapers reported.

The Flying Fox's destination port was "not recognized," but it was heading in the direction of Turkey, according to Marine Traffic.

Ragnar , a $85 million superyacht owned by former KGB agent Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, has remained in Turkish waters since May 6, when it docked in the resort of Marmaris, Marine Traffic data shows.

The 224-foot vessel departed on March 30 from a port in Norway, where it had been stuck because local suppliers refused to refuel it or do business with its owner, Norwegian public broadcaster NRK  reported at the time.

Meanwhile, Alexander Abramov's $100 million superyacht, Titan, set sail from Dubai on April 22 and made its way through the Suez Canal, Insider previously reported.

Titan arrived in Fethiye, Turkey, but departed on May 5 and has been "cruising" in Turkish waters since then, according to Marine Traffic . It is now near the resort of Güvercinlik, tracking data indicates.

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Solaris , a $600 million yacht owned by sanctioned billionaire Roman Abramovich, docked in Bodrum on March 21, Insider previously reported. A day later, his other superyacht - the $700 million Eclipse - arrived in Marmaris.

Since then, both yachts have remained in Turkish waters, with the Solaris anchored off the coast of Yalikavak, while Eclipse is "cruising" near Göcek, Marine Traffic data shows .

These five superyachts are at less risk of being seized because the Turkish government has previously criticized the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West.

However, Benjamin Maltby, a partner at Keystone Law who specializes in superyachts, told Insider that the vessels are "not automatically immune" in Turkey, given that the US was able to seize an oligarch's yacht in Fiji .

"Ultimately, the fate of the new Turkish fleet depends on the beneficial owners' relationship with the Turkish government," he said. "The EU and the US will just have to wait for the political winds to change, and that wait may be a very long one."

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Why Turkey Could Become The Next Haven For Russian Oligarchs Fleeing Sanctions

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Roman Abramovich's Eclipse yacht in Marmaris, Turkey on March 22.

As Western sanctions started to rain down on Russian oligarchs after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, many took their yachts out of the European Union and British territories to escape the risk of seizure. Some went to Dubai , while others fled to the Maldives. Now, the most popular destination for oligarch-owned yachts is Turkey.

At least eight yachts owned by Russian oligarchs—including Roman Abramovich ’s $438 million, 533-foot Eclipse and $474 million, 458-foot Solaris —are currently moored in Turkish ports or recently departed. The ships now in Turkey are worth a collective $1.1 billion, according to yacht valuation experts ​​VesselsValue.

The country is popular among oligarchs for reasons that go beyond its sunny climate and long Mediterranean coastline: despite being a NATO member, Turkey has rejected Western sanctions and maintained close ties with Russia, even hosting peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in late March.

“Sanctions imposed by the European countries and the U.S. triggered billionaires to look for alternative investment markets,” says Zeynep Fıratoğlu, the communications manager at Space, an Istanbul-based luxury real estate firm. “Turkey stood out as a viable option with its geographical location, advanced markets and banking system, as well as its neutral stand between Russia and Ukraine.”

According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute , home sales to non-Turkish buyers increased by 55% in February 2022 on a year-over-year basis. Sales to Russian buyers grew by 96%, while sales to Ukrainians rose by 85%. The boom continued in March, with foreigners buying 21% more homes than in February. “Since the invasion of Ukraine, we started seeing a significant increase in demand from Russian buyers,” says Fıratoğlu.

Turkey’s main calling card for Russians is its citizenship by investment scheme , which provides a Turkish passport within three to four months to anyone investing at least $250,000 in real estate or $500,000 in government bonds, companies, investment funds or a local bank account. That’s pocket change for the likes of Russian oligarchs, making Turkey an attractive alternative for those seeking a second passport. And while several other countries in Europe also have so-called “golden passport” schemes that offer similar benefits, those avenues may soon be closed off. Cyprus, long a popular tax haven for Russians, is cracking down on oligarchs: Forbes found that 15 Russian billionaires also have Cypriot citizenship, but the island country has already revoked the passports of eight oligarchs including Putin ally Oleg Deripaska .

According to Şerif Nadi Varlı, the lead real estate broker at Istanbul-based Vartur Real Estate, Russian billionaires are in the market less for luxury homes and more for major investments that could earn them a profit—as well as a Turkish passport. "Their yachts are here, they're spending time here,” he says.

Nadi Varlı was recently contacted by a client representing a Russian buyer looking to spend $100 million on a hotel on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. “The hotels we are offering them are on the seaside, from Antalya to Bodrum,” he says. “All Russian clients are now trying to get Turkish citizenship by investment.”

Coastal cities such as Bodrum, Fethiye and Marmaris are the most likely destinations for Russian oligarchs seeking to invest in Turkish real estate. Four of the eight oligarch-owned yachts tracked by Forbes in Turkey are moored in the area: Abramovich’s Eclipse and Alexander Nesis ’ $110 million Romea are anchored in the town of Göcek near Fethiye; Andrei Molchanov ’s $110 million Aurora is in Marmaris; and Abramovich’s Solaris is in Yalıkavak, near Bodrum. Oleg Deripaska’s $58 million Clio departed Göcek on April 16, while Iskander Makhmudov ’s $55 million Predator left the port of Kuşadası further north a month earlier. Elsewhere in Turkey, Vagit Alekperov’s $8 million Space is in the marina of Tuzla in Istanbul, while Arkady Rotenberg ’s $38 million Rahil was last seen in Tuzla before departing on April 27 for the Russian resort town of Sochi.

Abramovich, the most high-profile oligarch with yachts in Turkey, was spotted at the peace talks in Istanbul on March 29. He has a long history in the country: Nadi Varlı told Forbes that his firm sold four apartments in Bodrum to members of Abramovich’s family in 2007, but it’s unclear if they still own them. One of his jets—a Gulfstream G650 registered in Luxembourg with tail number LX-RAY—flew from Israel to Istanbul on March 14 and departed for Moscow the next day.

Beyond investments in real estate, Russians have also been opening companies in Turkey. Russians established a record 64 companies in Turkey in March, nearly quadruple the amount in February—and that number is expected to rise once data from April is released, according to Eray Sayin, an associate at Istanbul-based law firm Sayin Law & Consulting. It takes five days to set up a company and the process only costs about $3,400.

"After sanctions were imposed on Russia, there was an explosion in the number of companies founded by [Russian] citizens in Turkey," says Sayin. His firm has received 25 requests from Russian clients seeking to open a company in Turkey over the past 25 days.

Most of those firms are created with the purpose of investing in real estate, but some are also interested in the energy industry, particularly renewables and oil & gas. It’s likely that at least some Russian oligarchs and billionaires are opening companies in Turkey, according to Sayin, but it’s unclear how many. If Western sanctions related to the war in Ukraine continue for months, he expects Russian firms in other industries—including fertilizers, one of Russia’s key exports—to build factories and invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Turkey.

"There are a lot of investors from the energy industry, but at this stage they're only making small investments because everything is uncertain,” says Sayin. “But it's going to increase.”

Still, Turkish banks are wary of falling afoul of sanctions and require paperwork that proves the Russian individual or company opening a bank account hasn’t been sanctioned. And the high demand for citizenship for investment may also drive up the cost of the scheme: the Turkish government is planning to increase the minimum investment in real estate to $400,000 from $250,000.

Turkey and Russia have deep economic ties that go beyond the oligarch connection. Turkey is Russia’s fifth-largest export market, and Russia is Turkey’s tenth-largest. Vladimir Putin and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have also grown closer in recent years, after a period of rocky relations when the two powers backed opposite sides of the Syrian civil war. Tensions reached a flashpoint after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet over its airspace in November 2015, leading to trade restrictions and a suspension of visa-free travel. But the countries normalized relations in 2016, and Putin and Erdoğan have maintained contact throughout the war in Ukraine: the last phone call between the two leaders was on April 26.

As long as Western sanctions are in place and Turkey refuses to impose any of its own, Russian oligarchs are expected to continue investing in the country. That will be easier to do with a Turkish passport in hand and a locally registered company.

“In the short-term, we expect Russian individuals to obtain Turkish citizenship by purchasing a property in Turkey in order to have an alternative to their existing Russian passport,” says Fıratoğlu. “In the mid- to long-term, we can expect billionaire Russians to move their business[es] and wealth to Istanbul and have their families live either in Turkey or in other European countries.”

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Turkey welcomes Abramovich's €900m superyacht into Bodrum harbour

In an effort to escape Western economic sanctions, many of Russian's wealthiest individuals are fleeing to this little-known Turkish city.

As Western nations increase sanctions against Putin's war machine, many of Russia's wealthiest individuals are seeking economic refuge in a little-known Turkish city.

The port of Bodrum has become a safe haven for fleeing oligarchs, after it was revealed that Turkey would not impose financial penalties against the country's billionaires.

In recent days, Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich docked two superyachts in the city's waters - including 'Eclipse', one of the world's largest private vessels.

It was revealed that Turkey would not impose financial penalties against Russian billionaires.

The boat is reported to have two helipads, nine decks and a built-in missile defence system.

What are some things to do in Bodrum?

While the Russian elite wait out the economic storm , they'll have plenty to keep them entertained on the Turkish Riviera.

Famed for its sun, sand and nightlife, Bodrum boasts an extensive tourist infrastructure .

Whether its stunning beaches, dramatic coastlines or lush vegetation the oligarchs are after, the port city has something for everyone - especially those with a boat to explore its crystal clear waters.

• These are all the airlines impacted by the Ukraine-Russia war
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But if Abramovich is hoping to explore the city by foot, he need not fear. Bodrum boasts an impressive array of Grecian architecture, spanning back thousands of years. The Castle of St. Peter is one of the major attractions on the peninsula, while the Theatre at Halicarnassus offers guests a first-hand look at an ancient Turkish playhouse.

So whether you're a Russian oligarch hoping to avoid economic sanctions, or just a tourist dreaming of some spring sunshine , why not add Bodrum to your travel wish list this year?

Watch the video above to find out more.

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US alleges sanctioned Russian oligarch’s niece made payments for his $300M yacht

The yacht, known as the Amadea, was seized by officials in 2022, with the U.S. alleging billionaire Putin ally Suleiman Kerimov is the ultimate beneficial owner.

U.S. authorities claim to be one step closer to proving a seized $300 million mega yacht is owned by sanctioned Russian Suleiman Kerimov, according to new court filings that detail alleged payments for the boat from the oligarch’s niece.

The yacht, a 348-foot luxury vessel known as Amadea, was seized in Fiji in 2022 by local officials at the request of the United States, as part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to identify and seize assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Kerimov, known for throwing lavish parties and for his reportedly close relationship with Vladimir Putin, was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018. Britain and the European Union later followed suit.

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Nov 16, 2022.

However, since the Amadea’s seizure, another Russian oligarch, Eduard Khudainatov, who is not currently under U.S. sanctions, has claimed to be the yacht’s rightful owner — an assertion U.S. authorities deny.

Prosecutors allege that new documents show Kerimov’s niece, Alisa Gadzhieva, entered into a loan agreement with the company that owns the yacht, Errigal Marine Limited, and then made two payments to Khudainatov’s holding company, Invest International Finance Ltd, Intelligence Online reported .

“The United States takes sanction evasion seriously and will use all tools at its disposal to ensure that sanctioned individuals are held accountable for their crimes,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in an earlier statement . 

The ship belongs to an array of high-value luxury items linked to Kerimov, including private jets and sportscars, like a $650,000 Ferrari that Kerimov totaled in a fiery crash on the French Riviera in 2006. 

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The yacht’s seizure followed ICIJ’s Pandora Papers, which included revelations on the offshore financial empire of Kerimov and his closest associates. The investigation showed billions of dollars flowing through opaque offshore shell companies associated with Kerimov, and covert money flows tied to oligarchs and others close to the Kremlin. It also highlighted offshore professionals who have helped oligarchs secretly buy luxury assets like yachts and jets.

Gadzhieva’s brother, Kerimov’s nephew Nariman Gadzhiev, is also under U.S. sanctions for allegedly serving as an assistant and financial facilitator for Kerimov. ICIJ’s reporting showed that, in 2012, a firm registered in Gadzhiev’s name worked with Credit Suisse to secure a $67 million loan for the acquisition of a custom-built Boeing 737 Business Jet as well as a Bombardier Global Express jet. A few years later, an article in Forbes Russia described Kerimov as owning the same kind of Boeing jet.

The Amadea, which is currently in U.S. custody, has already cost over $7 million in taxpayer funds to maintain while the legal battle plays out, The Guardian reported.  

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Roman Abramovich's vast £750m superyacht is pictured at Turkish cruise port months after moving his prized 533ft vessel to the country to protect it from Western sanctions

• Roman Abramovich faces economic sanctions as a result of his ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin 
• He was forced to move his fleet of superyachts from western waters to avoid them being seized by authorities
•  Abramovich started moving Eclipse from the Caribbean days before the invasion of Ukraine took place 

By Darren Boyle for MailOnline

Published: 14:53 EDT, 12 August 2022 | Updated: 18:07 EDT, 12 August 2022

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Roman Abramovich 's flagship yacht Eclipse was today spotted in Turkish waters as the former Chelsea owner continues to prevent the £750m vessel being seized as part of western sanctions against Russia 's invasion of Ukraine . 

Abramovich, who is reportedly close to Russian President Vladimir Putin , faces having his assets seized and was forced by UK authorities to dispose of his interest in Chelsea. 

Several fellow oligarchs have seen their yachts and private jets seized after they were detained in western ports or airports. 

Roman Abramovich's £750m super yacht Eclipse, pictured, has laid anchor in Mugla, Turkey, where it remains beyond the reach of UK, EU and US sanctions 

Abramovich was forced to sell his interest in Chelsea as a result of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine 

Abramovich moved his yachts out of western waters after the invasion of Ukraine. Western governments included oligarchs, such as Abramovich, who are seen to be close to 

Abramovich was able to move his yachts into Turkish waters. Turkey, which is a member of Nato, has not introduced sanctions against tycoons are accused of being close to the Kremlin.  

The Eclipse usually spends much of the winter in the Caribbean where Abramovich has a 70 acre beachside estate on the billionaire playground island of St Barts.

But it left St Maarten, around 20 miles from St Barts, on February 21 as Putin gathered his forces to invade Ukraine. It went through the Straits of Gibraltar nine-days-ago – just two miles outside British territorial waters – and studiously avoided the waters of EU countries as it continued sailing east.

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The Solaris had been undergoing repairs in Barcelona, but left hurriedly on March 8 as EU countries began seizing assets. It arrived four days later in the port of Tivat in Montenegro which is not in the bloc.

Montenegro, which is eager to join the EU, had agreed to replicate sanctions against Russia, but in practice it only banned flights by the country's airlines. Abramovich therefore viewed the superyacht marina in Tivat as a safer location than Spain - at least temporarily, sources said.

The Solaris hurriedly left Tivat  just before the EU announced it had followed the UK’s lead and sanctioned Abramovich over his Kremlin links.

The £750m superyacht was built in Germany for Abramovich. It is currently moored in Mulga at the Marmaris Cruise Port

Turkey is seen as a safe haven for Oligarchs as the government has not introduced sanctions against Russia 

Share or comment on this article: Roman Abramovich's vast £750m superyacht is pictured at Turkish cruise port

Makes you question if Turkey is really an ally?

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Food Faith Fitness

Nourishing your body, mind and soul

Ground Turkey Zucchini Boats

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These delicious Ground Turkey Zucchini Boats make for the perfect low-carb dish and come together with minimal effort in under an hour.

Originally, I had an inkling that a version of stuffed zucchini exists in many different cultural cuisines, and that inkling was happily confirmed in my research!

The first tip-off was the fact that I’ve spent around fifteen summers in Istanbul, Turkey starting in my teen years, and while there are so many Turkish dishes that are seriously stellar, one of my favorites will forever be ground beef-stuffed zucchini, or etli kabak dolması .  This recipe reminds me of that one: seasoned ground meat infused with tangy tomato and herbs and the zucchini squash as the grand vehicle. These ground turkey zucchini boats can easily be an appetizer, side, or a main dish. They’re hearty, flavorful, and according to my notes … *checks notes* … a massive hit at dinner parties. What’s not to love?

Are Ground Turkey Zucchini Boats Healthy?

This dish fits seamlessly into the keto diet. It’s low in carbohydrates and high in protein owing to the ground turkey and cheese, and it is a wonderful source of fiber, potassium, as well as vitamins A and C. While this dish isn’t vegetarian, it can be modified to suit a vegetarian or vegan diet by making a few substitutions. Simply swap out the ground turkey for your favorite plant-based crumbles, such as Gardein’s Plant-Based Frozen Ground Be’f. Instead of mozzarella cheese, use your preferred vegan cheese – I’m a fan of Violife’s Just Like Mozzarella shreds. Keep in mind that vegan cheese tends to melt differently. Thankfully there are plenty of options to modify this recipe to most diets.

In Case You Thought Zucchini Was Bland and Mushy…

I could swear that all the zucchini I consumed in my childhood and teen years was a flavorless hot mess, but once I began cooking for myself I realized that with a little care and attention, the zucchini really shines. It is so versatile; you can add it to breakfast scrambles and to pasta, you can slice it thinly and add it to sandwiches, or as illustrated here, you can hollow it out and stuff it with a plethora of yummy ingredients. The issue here lies in the fact that a lot of zucchini we’ve encountered in the wild is overcooked and under-seasoned. Zucchini does not take long to cook to lightly caramelized perfection so it’s quite easy to overcook it, and in doing so, turn it mushy and gross. As for flavor, when it comes to zucchini, and most things if I’m being honest: salt is your friend. It enhances and brings out those subtle, mild flavors of the zucchini squash. To reiterate: Do not skimp on the salt. Not only will it enhance the seasoning but it will help you avoid any mushiness.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 zucchini squash
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven, and prepare zucchini.

Sauté garlic and onion, cook the turkey with seasonings, and add marinara.

Fill zucchini, bake, top with cheese, and bake again.

FAQs & Tips

You can prepare these ground turkey zucchini boats up to 2 days in advance. Just prep your meat filling and zucchini and store in two separate airtight containers in your fridge until it’s time to bake them. Once fully baked, you can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If freezing, make sure to thaw leftovers in the fridge overnight before reheating in the oven at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.

You can prevent this by salting the flesh of the prepped zucchini once it’s been cut while you finish preparing the rest of the ingredients. This will draw out excess moisture that can lead to soggy zucchini.

Once your zucchini is done cooking, it should be very tender throughout, without being mushy. You’ll know that it’s fully cooked if you can puncture the flesh of the zucchini with a fork without much resistance.

Serving Suggestions

When I tell you this dish is versatile, I mean that it can really fit into any menu for just about any occasion. It’s especially enjoyable alongside a solid rice dish like this delicious Latin Yellow Rice . You can also serve it with this insanely good Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread) or a big, bright salad like this Greek Cucumber Salad . I’m a huge fan of all of the above and they would complement the zucchini dish wonderfully.

Ingredients

• 3 zucchini squash
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the inside, leaving enough room for the filling.
• Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and chopped onion, sauté until browned.

• Stir in marinara sauce and cook on low heat until well combined.

• Remove from oven, top with shredded mozzarella cheese, and bake for an additional 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Info:

Nutrition Disclaimer

Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.

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A migrant has died off a Greek island after smugglers ditched 31 people in the sea to avoid patrols

Greek authorities say one migrant has died after smugglers piloting a speedboat from Turkey to an Aegean Sea island forced their passengers into the sea to avoid detection by marine patrols

ATHENS, Greece -- One migrant died after smugglers piloting a speedboat from Turkey to an Aegean Sea island forced their passengers into the sea on Tuesday to avoid detection by marine patrols, Greek authorities said.

The remaining 30 migrants on the vessel were unhurt, a coast guard statement said.

The statement said the incident occurred off the eastern island of Samos, which is close to the Turkish coast. It said the speedboat was detected after the migrants — including eight children — had been forced overboard. It was stopped following a chase in which coast guard fired warning gunshots that caused no injury.

Two Turkish men on the vessel that had been heading back to Turkey were arrested and charged with migrant smuggling and actions that led to the loss of life.

The statement said 27 people managed to swim ashore to Samos. A search and rescue operation later located three migrants alive in the water and the body of a man. Nobody else was reported missing.

Greece is a major entry point for people from the Middle East, Africa and Asia seeking a better life in Europe. Most enter by sea from nearby Turkey, with the help of smuggling gangs that charge thousands of dollars per person for the passage.

Following increased policing of Greece's eastern Aegean waters, smugglers have for months been using high-powered speedboats to try to dodge patrols. This has led to a series of confrontations in which speedboats rammed coast guard vessels, and in one case a migrant was fatally shot as coast guards opened fire on a smuggling boat.

Alternatively, smugglers cram dozens of migrants into sailing yachts that try to circumvent patrols by heading through the central Aegean Sea toward Italy.

Follow AP’s global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration

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