Fiji can Restrain Russian Superyacht while Warrant to Seize is Processed – High Court Rules

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The superyacht Amadea docked at the Port of Lautoka. Picture: BALJEET SINGH Fiji Times.

22 April 2022 Suva Fiji. The High Court of Fiji has allowed the government’s application to prevent the$250 million dollar superyacht Amadea from leaving the country.

The ruling stems from an application filed by Fiji’s Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde, to prevent the 347-footer Russian superyacht from leaving Fiji.

The application had sought orders that the Amadea “be restrained from leaving Fijian waters until the finalisation of an application to register a warrant to seize the property”.

Amadea

The luxury vessel is owned by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, a close ally of Russian President Vladmir Putin. Kerimov is amongst Russia’s ogli is sanctioned by the United States and the European Union over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On April 12th the Amadea was tracked and reported by BBC News to be sailing at full speed towards Australia via Fiji to avoid seizure at all costs.

The Amadea is longer than a football field. It has a dedicated party deck with 20,000 watts of speakers and a cinema with a popcorn machine. As per Boat International, the main deck converts to a party space with 20,000 Watts of built-in speakers, lights, and lasers. The spa pool gets transformed into a stage where bands and D.J.s plug straight into the ship’s audio system.