US, UK put new sanctions on Russian oligarchs and families, as a prominent tycoon is found dead
A prominent Russian tycoon has taken his own life and others are fleeing to “safe havens” after the US and UK announced new sanctions targeting them.
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At least one Russian tycoon has taken his own life and others are fleeing with their superyachts to the Maldives and Seychelles as sanctions are imposed on Russia’s super-rich over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Washington, the European Union and others have said they will target oligarchs who have amassed fortunes and political influence under Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian tycoon Mikhail Watford’s body was found in his garage by a gardener on the Wentworth Estate in Virginia Water, Surrey – one of Britain’s most exclusive estates – on Monday. He is believed to have died by suicide.
The father of three, 66, made his fortune from oil refineries in Ukraine then set up a property firm after moving to the UK.
Police are probing the death with the “utmost seriousness” amid speculation he could have been on a hit list, The Sun reports.
A family friend said: “His state of mind might have been affected by the situation in the Ukraine.
“The timing of his death and the invasion of Ukraine was surely not coincidental.”
Another associate said: “His death raises questions. After all the other suspicious deaths of Russian nationals and associates in the UK, it is only natural there will be speculation about his death.”
“An investigation into the circumstances of the death is under way but it is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances at this time,” Surrey Police said in a statement.
A growing number of superyachts belonging to Russia’s wealthiest people have made their way to the Indian Ocean, cruising around the Maldives and Seychelles, according to Bloomberg News.
US President Joe Biden announced sanctions on several Russian oligarchs and government officials on Thursday, targeting individuals including Russian billionaire financier Alisher Usmanov, Nikolai Tokarev, the chief executive of energy company Transneft, and Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman.
“These individuals and their family members will be cut off from the US financial system, their assets in the United States will be frozen and their property will be blocked from use,” the White House said.
“The Department of Treasury will share financial intelligence and other evidence where appropriate with the Department of Justice to support criminal prosecutions and seizure of assets,” it added.
Other individuals sanctioned by the US included Boris Rotenberg, Arkady Rotenberg, Sergei Chemezov, Igor Shuvalov, and Yevgeniy Prigozhin.
Meanwhile, the White House also announced that the state department would implement visa restrictions on 19 Russian oligarchs and 47 of their family members.
The Treasury department will also impose sanctions on seven Russian media entities responsible for spreading “false narratives that advance Russian strategic objectives and falsely justify the Kremlin’s activities “.
The United Kingdom announced a “full asset freeze and travel ban” Thursday against Alisher Usmanov and Igor Shuvalov, who were described as two of “Russia’s leading oligarchs with significant interests in the UK and close links to the Kremlin.”
According to a statement from the UK government, Usmanov has had significant interests in English football clubs Arsenal and Everton, as well as owning luxury real estate. Shuvalov also has two luxury apartments in central London and is a “core part of Putin’s inner circle, and headed up Russia’s bid for the 2018 Football World Cup,” the statement said.
“Our message to Putin and his allies has been clear from day one — invading Ukraine would have serious and crippling economic consequences. Sanctioning Usmanov and Shuvalov sends a clear message that we will hit oligarchs and individuals closely associated with the Putin regime and his barbarous war,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.
“We won’t stop here. Our aim is to cripple the Russian economy and starve Putin’s war machine.”
On Thursday, France seized a yacht owned by Russian oligarch Igor Sechin, the French finance ministry said in a statement.
Sechin is the chief executive of Russian oil giant Rosneft. The European Union sanctioned Sechin earlier this week, describing him as one of Putin’s “most trusted and closest advisers, as well as his personal friend.”
The yacht, named “Amore Vero” — or “True Love” in Italian — arrived at the French Mediterranean port of La Ciotat in January. It was scheduled to leave the port on April 1.
The four biggest yachts in the Maldives right now are Russian-owned. The largest, the 459-foot Ocean Victory, belongs to steel magnate Victor Rashnikov, according to SuperyachtFan.com.
On Wednesday, authorities in Germany seized Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov’s 500-foot megayacht, the Dilbar, as part of the package of sanctions against the Kremlin and its supporters, Forbes magazine reported.
The ship was taken by authorities in the north German port of Hamburg on Wednesday. The craft is estimated to be worth $600 million.
Billionaire Oleg Deripaska’s 238-foot yacht, Clio, is headed for the Maldives from Sri Lanka. No stranger to sanctions, Deripaska was among seven Russian oligarchs sanctioned in 2018 by the US Treasury Department.
Vagit Alekperov, president of Russia-based Lukoil, is reportedly sailing his yacht Galactica Super Nova from Barcelona to Montenegro, according to Marine Traffic data. The vessel reportedly features a “a 6-meter glass-bottom swimming pool with a waterfall. And a touch-and-go helipad, an elevator, and a large beach club.”
The 465-foot Nord, owned by Alexei Mordashov, another steel billionaire, is in the Seychelles after sailing from the Maldives.
Russian banker Andrey Kostin’s Sea Rhapsody is heading to the island chain from Turkey, the New York Post reports.
Meanwhile, Roman Abramovich, who is said to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest oligarch ally, has put his London properties up for sale, and is even selling his beloved Chelsea Football Club. His superyacht Solaris has been seen in Barcelona a few days ago.
British MP Chris Bryant said in Parliament in London on Monday that Abramovich was terrified of being sanctioned.”
Abramovich, who has always denied links to Putin, has even been in Belarus “helping with the talks” on behalf of the Russians.
A spokesperson for the Chelsea owner said, “I can confirm that Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since.”
Meanwhile, Abramovich’s 162.5-metre superyacht Eclipse is moored in St. Maarten. The boat is equipped with a military-grade missile detection system, two helicopter pads and a submarine that is capable of submerging to 50 meters — sparking speculation that the yacht could be a refuge for Putin.
One Russian source told Page Six, “Yachts generally do not have missile detection systems or antimissile defences. People believe it was built for Putin. That yacht will definitely be top of the list to be seized.”
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