U.S. Files Warrant to Seize Two Planes Owned by Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich
Prosecutors say owner of U.S.-made planes breached U.S. sanctions by flying into Russia; it is first U.S. action against high-profile billionaire
WASHINGTON—U.S. authorities filed a warrant to seize two planes owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, saying that as U.S.-manufactured aircraft, they are subject to U.S. sanctions imposed in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to a court document filed Monday, a Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliner and Gulfstream jet owned by Mr. Abramovich flew into Russia after February, a trip that would have required a U.S. export license. One jet is in Dubai and the other in Moscow, according to the warrant.
“Those vessels are not today taken into U.S. custody, but they are now publicly known as wanted property, as tainted assets subject to forfeiture and under active pursuit,” a Justice Department official said. A representative for Mr. Abramovich couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Mr. Abramovich, the world’s best-known Russian oligarch, flew his Dreamliner, worth hundreds of millions of dollars into Dubai on March 4, its last known location. The plane is designed for 250 passengers.
Known for his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his efforts to serve as a go-between between the Kremlin and Ukrainian leadership, Mr. Abramovich faces U.K. and European Union restrictions but hasn’t been subject to U.S. measures on account of his role in the talks. While he engaged as a mediator in the talks, the Journal reported in April, he also reshuffled his holdings to shield assets from sanctions, including by shifting control of an investment vehicle associated with him, moving two megayachts and trying to sell some U.S. hedge-fund assets.
Mr. Abramovich has continued to help with evacuations and prisoner swaps, but the peace talks have stalled, according to people familiar with the matter.
As part of a broad sanctions package in February, the U.S. and its allies imposed sweeping measures against Russia after Moscow launched what President Biden called “an unprovoked and unjustified attack” on Ukraine, hoping a fresh tranche of penalties would punish Russia and persuade it to ratchet down hostilities.
Those sanctions imposed limits on the export of aircraft and aircraft parts to Russia without a license, and further limited exceptions for Russian nationals.
The warrant said investigators had examined records related to the planes from Aruba, the British Virgin Islands and Jersey in their probe. The Journal reported last month that authorities in the latter offshore financial center in the English Channel are conducting a wide-ranging preliminary probe into Mr. Abramovich’s wealth held on the island, including whether a business partner helped the billionaire try to evade U.K. sanctions, citing people familiar with the situation.
The Gulfstream flew from Istanbul to Moscow on March 12, and again flew into Moscow on March 15, where the warrant said it had remained since. According to the document, a Jersey company controlled by Abramovich, Clear Skies Flights Ltd., bought the plane in March 2020 for $60 million.
Another company Mr. Abramovich allegedly controlled, a British Virgin Islands firm called Wenham Overseas Ltd., bought the jet for $93.6 million in December 2017 and customized the interior to make it worth around $350 million, the warrant said. In connection with that deal, Mr. Abramovich’s representatives disclosed that Mr. Abramovich was the ultimate beneficial owner of Wenham, the warrant said.
He controlled both companies through a series of shell companies, prosecutors said.
The Commerce Department earlier this year publicly flagged both planes as potential violators of U.S. sanctions.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department formed a task force known as KleptoCapture to track and try to seize assets of Russian elites as part of an international effort to raise the cost to the Kremlin and its supporters of pursuing the Ukraine invasion.
In April, authorities seized a $90 million super yacht in Spain that was owned by Viktor Vekselberg, a sanctioned oligarch with close ties to Mr. Putin. The yacht is now going through the forfeiture process in court.
In May, law-enforcement officials in Fiji seized a $325 million superyacht owned by another Russian oligarch who was previously sanctioned for alleged money laundering.