The US Department of Justice on Monday ordered the seizure of two planes belonging to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. The ministry claimed that these two planes were used in violation of the sanctions imposed on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.
The US Department of Justice on Monday ordered the seizure of two planes belonging to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, saying they had been used in violation of sanctions imposed on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. The ministry explained in legal documents that the aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and a Gulfstream G650ER jet, flew in Russian territory after US export regulations were introduced on March 2.
The two planes, worth more than $400 million, are of American origin and their owner, billionaire Roman Abramovich, flew them to Russia in March without applying for a special re-export license, according to the Ministry.
“Demonstrate the muscular application of the sanctions regime”
“The Department of Commerce’s controls over exports and re-exports are strong and must be respected. It is an important component of the US strategy to deprive Russia of the means to fuel its illegal war,” explained Andrew Adams, the director of the team called KleptoCapture. This team, which includes a dozen prosecutors and investigators from several American services, is responsible for investigating violations of the sanctions adopted against Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine and for organizing the seizure of the property of the oligarchs.
“In the short term, the objective (of this team) is to demonstrate the muscular application of the sanctions regime and to encourage people close to the Kremlin to distance themselves from the Russian state which continues to accelerate the war” , added Andrew Adams. The Justice Department did not say where the two planes are currently located. The former owner of the Chelsea football club has not been placed on the list of personalities sanctioned by the United States.