Spanish police impound superyacht owned by oligarch Vekselberg

MADRID, Spain – Spanish police on Monday, April 4, impounded a superyacht belonging to Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, they said, in what is believed to be the first such action in Europe at the request of US authorities.

Valued at more than 90 million euros ($99 million), the 78-meter-long Tango (255 feet) was seized in a shipyard on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, the Guardia Civil police said in a statement.

A number of documents and data storage devices were seized on board, it said, adding it had also uncovered “a complex financial and partnership scheme” designed to hide Vekselberg’s ownership of the vessel.

A spokesperson for billionaire Vekselberg, who heads aluminum-to-energy conglomerate Renova, had no immediate comment.

The oligarch is not on the list of individuals subject to European Union sanctions against Russia.

But he was placed under US sanctions over alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election and then included on a list of members of the inner circle of President Vladimir Putin targeted in retaliation for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to information collated by Reuters, the seizure of the Tango was the first of its kind carried out in Europe at the behest of US authorities.

The Guardia Civil said it had acted in a joint operation involving itself, the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Spanish authorities have impounded three other superyachts suspected of belonging to Russians under EU sanctions over the past weeks. – Rappler.com

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