Staff who work on yachts and planes of Russian oligarchs could face UK sanctions
Staff and crew who work on yachts or planes owned by Russian oligarchs could face UK sanctions under a move by the Foreign Office to extend the penalties.
The aim is to make it harder for the yachts – sometimes indirectly owned by oligarchs – to be maintained by crew and covers anyone providing technical assistance and maintenance to a yacht or plane. It will also restrict the ability of oligarchs to find staff willing to sail or fly their assets out of the UK jurisdiction.
Two superyachts linked to the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich have docked in Turkey, beyond the reach of UK and EU sanctions. But if it could be proven that UK firms were providing assistance to the yachts, they could be punished through sanctions.
UK officials note that in Italy, the crew of suspect yachts have either been changed or refused to cooperate with police over revealing the identity of the vessel’s ultimate owner. The Italian police have been investigating Scheherazade, one of the world’s largest superyachts and currently in a Tuscan luxury resort, which some believe is owned by Vladimir Putin.
The Foreign Office has also said sanctions are being extended to cover illegal activity not just in Crimea but in the Russian-controlled territoriesof Donetsk and Luhansk. The legislation takes the form of a statutory instrument – a form of legislation that has to be debated by MPs but quickly becomes law.
The UK government seized its first superyacht in British waters earlier this week, adding to a tally of seven in Europe.
The £38m yacht, named Phi, is owned by a Russian businessman, understood not to be an individual facing sanctions.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the individual was not currently under sanctions but had “close connections”
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