A US judge has approved the seizure of two private planes owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich valued at more than $400 million for violating US export and sanctions laws.
The planes, a Gulfstream and a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, believed to be one of the most expensive private planes in the world, are currently in Russia and Dubai, according to testimony from an FBI agent in support of the arrest warrant. .
The US Commerce Department also announced administrative charges against Abramovich. If he is found liable, the maximum penalty could be equal to the value of the planes, a government official said.
The actions taken by the US are part of an effort to punish Russians known to be close to the Kremlin and put pressure on Moscow’s economy to try to end the invasion of Ukraine.
Although Abramovich has not been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, a U.S. Department of Justice official said the arrest warrant indicates that “no one is above the law and not being on the OFAC list does not gives you a license to run away. sanctions or export controls”.
Officials say the US-made planes entered and left Russia without obtaining permits from the US Department of Commerce.
Airplanes and aircraft parts are subject to export regulations due to their potential military use and national security implications.
More background: After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, the US Commerce Department tightened sanctions and began requiring licenses to export planes, which previously did not need approval.
In early March, the department also banned an American plane belonging to a Russian citizen from being exported to Russia.
In an unusual move, the arrest warrant was made public and not filed under secrecy. The US Department of Justice official said the request was public to reveal the names of shell companies that the US believes were used to protect real property and encourage dialogue with banks, insurers and others to cooperate.
The official said he also intended to send a message to anyone helping those sanctioned or accused of violating US laws that they are “at risk of being seen as obstructionists.”
In the statement, the FBI agent described four layers of shell companies he uncovered to track the aircraft to Abramovich.
The filing indicated that the FBI located documents used to establish the companies offshore, in jurisdictions beyond US control and beyond its subpoena power.
These documents indicated that Abramovich was the owner of the companies that purchased the jets.
Authorities say that in mid-March the Gulfstream jet flew to Russia twice, where it remains. In early March, the Boeing aircraft flew from Dubai to Russia and returned to Dubai, where it remains.
The Boeing, which was originally purchased for $93.6 million, was customized and is now valued at about $350 million, according to FBI affidavit.
Andrew Adams, head of the US KleptoCapture task force, which seized two luxury yachts and bank accounts, previously told CNN that they are looking broadly at the laws they can apply and the types of assets they can seize, no matter where they are located.
“These seizures will continue at a rapid pace, and people recognize that where seizures are happening across the world are in pockets of the world that may not have been expected,” he said earlier, adding, “There are no safe havens. “
Source: CNN Brasil
