ROME (Reuters) – Italian police have seized a superyacht from Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko, the prime minister’s workplace stated on Saturday, a couple of days after the businessman was positioned on an EU sanctions checklist following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The 143-metre (470-foot) Sailing Yacht A, which has a price ticket of 530 million euros ($578 million), has been sequestered on the northern port of Trieste, the federal government stated.
Designed by Philippe Starck and constructed by Nobiskrug in Germany, the vessel is the world’s largest crusing yacht, the federal government stated.
Melnichenko owns main fertiliser producer EuroChem Group and coal firm SUEK.
Last week Italian police seized villas and yachts value 143 million euros ($156 million) from 5 high-profile Russians who’ve been positioned on the sanctions checklist.
The police operations have been a part of a coordinated drive by Western states to penalise rich Russians linked to President Vladimir Putin.
($1 = 0.9167 euros)
(Reporting by Emilio Parodi; Writing by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Frances Kerry)
