Fiji grants application to seize Russia-linked superyacht Amadea

Fiji’s High Court has granted an application to seize the 106m superyacht Amadea, which is believed to be owned by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov.

The superyacht is currently berthed at the Lautoka Wharf in Fiji and the court has ruled in favour of its US seizure.

According to local news outlets, defence lawyer Faizal Haniff informed the court that he will be filing an application on 4 May, seeking an interim stay on the ruling.

In April 2022, the US Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Christopher Pryde, filed a restraining order to stop the superyacht Amadea leaving Fijian waters while authorities worked to formally seize it.

According to Bloomberg, Amadea arrived in the Fijian port of Lautoka on 12 April after an 18-day journey from Mexico.

Kerimov has been sanctioned by the US, UK and the European Union over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.

The detention of Amadea is one of a lengthening list of detentions and seizures of Russian-linked superyachts globally including 14 yachts impounded in the Netherlands.