Russian President Vladimir Putin gave advice to Russian businessmen who lost their yachts after they were arrested by the authorities of Western countries as a result of sanctions imposed against them, Lenta reports.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said Russian businessmen would not lose their accounts and yachts if they kept them in Russia and not abroad.
“It would be better if these ships were kept here and the money was invested not in foreign assets, but in the development of Russian infrastructure,” he advised, adding that “the current situation is a lesson for everyone.”
Addressing the West, the head of the Kremlin also said that many Russian businessmen “didn’t hold anything special over there,” and it turned out that they were right.
“Today, the business community as a whole demonstrates the highest responsibility to the country,” he emphasized.
Yachts seized from Russian oligarchs
Putin’s comments came after the yachts of several Russian oligarchs were seized in Western countries after their governments imposed sanctions on Russian billionaires close to the Kremlin following the invasion of Ukraine.
In April, Germany arrested the largest superyacht in the world “Dilbar”, which according to documents belongs to the sister of oligarch Alisher Usmanov. Britain has imposed sanctions against him since March 3, as the steel magnate is considered one of President Putin’s closest Russian businessmen.
Since the beginning of March, several yachts of Russian oligarchs have been arrested in Germany and France.
Roman Abramovich, probably the most famous Russian billionaire internationally, managed to avoid confiscation of his yachts after they were docked in Turkey, a country that has not complied with sanctions imposed by the West and other countries against Russia.
The first confiscated superyacht was sold at an auction in August, but not to the benefit of Ukraine.
The 72.5-meter superyacht Axioma has been put up for sale after it was seized at the request of investment bank JP Morgan, which claims the vessel’s owner, oligarch Dmytro Pumpiansky, owes it more than $20 million.
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Source: Hot News RU
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