Sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s 500ft-long £600million megayacht – one of the biggest in the world – is SEIZED by German authorities amid crackdown on Putin’s oligarchs
- Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov was hit with sanctions by the EU on Monday
- The oligarch has been criticised for his links to Vladimir Putin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- German officials seized his £600million megayacht Dilbar in Hamburg
- MP Chris Bryant has called for Usmanov to face similar sanctions in Britain
- Premier League club Everton suspended their partnerships with Usmanov’s company USM this week
Sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s megayacht has been seized amid a crackdown on oligarchs friendly with Vladimir Putin.
The 512-foot Dilbar, described as Usmanov’s prized possession, was frozen by German authorities on Monday.
The vessel, with an estimated value of £600million, remains at shipyards in the northern city of Hamburg where it has been for a refitting job since late October.
The move is part of an asset freeze on Usmanov after he was sanctioned by the European Union in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Completely shrouded, the mega-yacht Dilbar lies in the Blohm Voss Dock Elbe 17 in the harbour
Sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s megayacht has been seized by German authorities, it has been reported
The move is part of an asset freeze on Usmanov, 68, (pictured right with Putin at the Kremlin in 2018) after he was sanctioned by the EU in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Dilbar was custom-built for Usmanov by German shipbuilder Lürssen and took 52 months to finish.
She is one of the world’s largest yachts by volume and can hold over 100 passengers and crew in 58 cabins.
The yacht is part of Usmanov’s multibillion pound fortune, which spans stakes in iron ore and steel giant Metalloinvest and consumer electronics firm Xiaomi, as well as holdings in telecom, mining and media.
Usmanov, an oligarch with links to Vladimir Putin, was on Monday added to a list of sanctioned individuals by the European Union.
He hit back at the EU in a statement on the website of the International Fencing Federation, of which he is president, writing: ‘On 28 February 2022 I became the target of restrictive measures imposed by the European Union.
‘I believe that such a decision is unfair, and the reason is employed to justify the sanctions are a set of false and defamatory allegations damaging my honour, dignity, and business reputation.
Until this week, Usmanov had a sponsorship deal with Everton FC, which has since been suspended
‘I would use all legal means to protect my owner and reputation.’
Despite calls from MPs, Usmanov has not yet been given sanctions in the UK.
Usmanov has several interests in Britain, and until this week had a sponsorship deal with Everton FC, which has since been suspended.
As recently as 2018, the 68-year-old had a 30 per cent stake in Arsenal FC but sold out to American owner Stan Kroenke.
He also owns Beechwood House in the Highgate area of north London and Sutton Place in Surrey – collectively worth over £200million.