JAKARTA - The Italian government on Friday ordered the seizure of a luxury yacht worth about US$700 million (Rp10.15 trillion) which the media has linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Scheherazade, the gleaming six-deck luxury yacht, has been undergoing repairs at the Italian port of Marina di Carrara since September, but recent activity at the dock suggests the crew may be preparing to go out to sea.
Italy's finance ministry said in a statement that investigations showed the ship's owner had links to "important elements of the Russian government" and to people who were subject to EU sanctions.
The Scheherazade has two helicopter pads and can accommodate up to 18 guests and a crew of 40. Its owner has never been identified publicly, but there are rumors that it belongs to Putin or members of his inner circle.
Sources with direct knowledge of the investigation into the vessel said Italian police believe the owner is Eduard Khudainatov, the former head of Russian energy giant Rosneft which is not currently the target of EU sanctions.
The finance ministry did not name the owner, but said it had asked the European Union to add the person to a sanctions list and had ordered that the yacht be seized pending a decision.
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