A U.S. judge has authorized the sale of the 106-meter superyacht Amadea—a $300 million vessel linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, according to The Financial Times and The Moscow Times.
The decision follows a years-long legal battle and a high-profile asset seizure by U.S. prosecutors enforcing sanctions tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The yacht, which boasts a helipad, swimming pool, spa, wine cellar, lobster tank, and a hand-painted Pleyel grand piano adorned in 24-karat gold, is now set to go to auction.
“This is a landmark win for the KleptoCapture task force,” a Justice Department official said, referring to the elite unit launched in March 2022 to seize illicit assets held by Putin-aligned elites.
The Amadea was seized in Fiji in May 2022 and transported to San Diego, where it has been docked ever since under U.S. custody.
Prosecutors alleged the vessel was acquired and used in violation of U.S. anti-money laundering laws, and that Kerimov was its true owner despite his denials.
Though Kerimov claimed he had no ownership of the yacht, testimony from the crew and the ship’s own logs told a different story. Prosecutors revealed that Kerimov vacationed on the yacht with his daughters, made custom alterations to its interior, and directed equipment changes—all pointing to de facto ownership.
Former Rosneft CEO Eduard Khudainatov stepped forward as the legal owner of the yacht. But U.S. authorities argued successfully in court that Khudainatov was merely a “front” owner, part of a network of shell companies designed to obscure Kerimov’s involvement.
A U.S. judge agreed, clearing the way for the yacht’s confiscation and upcoming auction.
Yacht Maintenance Costing Taxpayers $7 Million a Year
While docked in San Diego, the Amadea has been an expensive trophy to hold. Maintaining the vessel has cost U.S. taxpayers approximately $7 million annually, prompting urgency to resolve its status and recover funds.
Under U.S. law, assets seized from sanctioned individuals may be redirected to support Ukraine—an increasingly symbolic and financial gesture in the West’s campaign against Russia’s elite.
The seizure of the Amadea marks the largest victory to date for KleptoCapture, the U.S. task force created to dismantle financial lifelines of Putin-aligned oligarchs.
Officials say the team successfully traced a global network of enablers and shell entities that helped Kerimov evade sanctions.
“It’s not just about yachts,” one official said. “It’s about stripping away the tools and symbols of corruption that fuel authoritarian regimes.”
