Joining the tumultuous tale of superyachts, Amadea and Scheherazade, is the Russian tycoon Eduard Khudainatov, starring as a pivotal character. Like a movie that takes way too long to finish, the race to seize the assets of Suleiman Kerimov (Amadea) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Scheherazade) seems to be eluding a conclusion. US authorities alleged Khudainatov operated as the “straw owner” of superyachts that total up to a whopping $1 billion. The former president of state-controlled Rosneft OJSC does not appear on any sanctions list, making him an apt choice for the role of a straw owner. Eagle-eyed US officials were quick to notice, “While Khudainatov is wealthy, there is no reason to believe he has the financial resources to purchase both the Amadea and the Scheherazade, which are collectively worth more than $1 billion,” stated the affidavit filed in the Fiji court proceedings, as per Bloomberg. The mammoth Scheherazade. Via – Youtube. The special agent with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation pointed out, “The fact that Khudainatov is being held out as the owner of two of the largest superyachts on record, both linked to sanctioned individuals, suggests that Khudainatov is being used as a clean, unsanctioned straw owner to conceal the true beneficial owners of these vessels.”
US agents boarding the Amadea. Via – Fijinews The US affidavit leaves little scope for conjecture. It shows evidence that Kerimov family members asked for irreversible modifications to the Amadea, such as installing a new pizza oven, a spa bed, and repositioning electric sockets on the vessel. Why would anyone renting a megayacht ask for these modifications or additions? They would simply choose one with these features already installed.
The Amadea superyacht. Via – Charterworld.com The crew of Amadea had codenames for every member of the Kerimov family. Kerimov was referred to as G0 as per Business Insider. “Apparently, G0 has two things that have to be immaculate. Stainless and teak. G0 has requested the quickest [jet skis] available so that we will be getting new skis at some point, “the document says per Bloomberg. As far as Scheherazade is concerned, the US has taken no public action. The registered owner of the Putin-linked $700 million megayacht is also Khudainatov through Bielor Asset Ltd.; a company set up in 2020 in the Marshall Islands. Actual owners of these sprawling vessel housing every lavish amenity in the book have made it a habit-of-sorts of hiding behind a veil of shell companies and concealing the ultimate beneficiary of assets.
The Amadea seized at Fiji. Via Facebook / Fiji News It would be quite a task to find even one superyacht linked directly to its multi-billionaire Russian owner, which says it all. While lawyers and US authorities battle it out, Amadea is sucking the tiny Island nation Fiji dry. The 348 feet mammoth is a liability Fiji cannot afford, and its maintenance costs them $1 million a week. It has been docked in Fiji for nearly five weeks now, bringing the total to $5 million.
Via – Charterworld.com The never-ending narrative of the Amadea megayacht: The voyage of the 347-footer seems to be one with no destination in sight. Closure seems to be evading Suleiman Kerimov’s luxury vessel. From sailing towards Australia to avoid seizure at all costs over an 18-day trans-Pacific journey to a being embroiled in a tug-of-war court case in Fiji, the $325 million megayacht is still awaiting a decision. US authorities have strived hard to link Amadea to Kerimov and not Eduard Khudainatov, as stated by the registered owner, Millemarin Investments. The Amadea is under Fiji Police Custody as the Fijian court’s judgment has been put on hold until at least Friday while defense lawyers file an appeal. Amadea flaunts a dedicated party deck with 20,000 watts of speakers and a cinema with a popcorn machine. It also includes a helipad, pool, Jacuzzi, and winter garden on its sun deck.
Via – Charterworld.com Significance of the opulent Scheherazade: Since September, the 460 feet Lürssen yacht has been undergoing a refit at a shipyard in Tuscany. The order for its seizure came in amid fears that Scheherazade was about to flee after refueling at the shipyard in Marina di Carrara. The $700 million ship boasts gold toilet roll holders, a swimming pool that converts into a dance floor, and a hospital to keep its alleged owner Vladimir Putin healthy and safe. The luxury boat comprises six sprawling decks, several swimming pools, a spa, a sauna, a theatre, ballrooms, and a gym. Its drone crashing system is among the high-tech security systems that ensure maximum privacy.
Eduard Khudainatov (right) with Vladimir Putin and Paolo Scaroni CEO of ENI. Via – Wikipedia Who is Eduard Khudainatov? Khudainatov is the former President of Rosneft, a world-renowned Russian energy company. before his stint at Rosneft, the 61-year old businessman successfully implemented the development of Yuzhno-Russkoye field, one of the largest oil and gas fields in Russia as the General Director of Severneftegaz. Khudainatov left Rosneft and purchased companies Geotex and Payakha which he eventually sold for a whopping $5 billion. The owner of Neftegaz holding (NNK)is said to be the mystery beneficiary of $700 million Scheherazade. Superyacht Fan shared, in an interview with the New York Times, the motoryacht’s captain Guy Bennett-Pearce confessed to disclosing the yacht’s UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) to Italian Customs as Khudainatov.
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