The Kleptocrat Excess Thread

[ZoWie]

Let's bust these guys. They're practically countries in themselves, and they pull every trick anyone can dream up for them. They have more money than it's possible to count. It's over the edge so far that it'll write the history of our age.

1. You can't sanction something that doesn't exist

These guys put everything in trust or behind various legal dodges.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60825983

Alisher Usmanov: Oligarch says he ditched mansions before sanctions

A Russian billionaire sanctioned by the UK says he no longer owns many former properties, potentially putting them beyond the reach of the law.

Ex-Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov's £82m London home and Surrey mansion were put into trusts linked to the oligarch.

This raises questions over the effectiveness of sanctions imposed since the invasion of Ukraine began.

[ZoWie]

2. Global yacht search

People are trying to track down these mini-ocean liners they refer to as yachts and keep them from fleeing to places where they're above the law.

https://www.bbc.com/news/60739336

A boatload of young Ukrainians tried to stop the superyacht My Solaris docking in Bodrum in Turkey. The other Abramovich-linked yacht Eclipse sailed to Marmaris.

The UK, US and EU have said they will target superyachts, and at least eight have been seized so far. More remain at large - some are on the move, others are moored in places that are currently safe from sanctions, including the Maldives.

Many superyachts are linked to Russian billionaires but ownership is shrouded in secrecy - boats are often registered through a series of offshore companies.

The team at Lloyd's List sifted through registration papers, credit reports and other records to determine who they believe is linked to each superyacht.

Quite the list.

Roman Abramovich:
My Solaris, estimated cost $600 million. Crew of 60, swimming pool, outdoor beach club
Eclipse, $700 million, two helipads and its own submarine

Vladimir Putin:
Graceful, $140 million, indoor pool which converts to a dance floor
Scheherazade, $700 million, hard to trace ownership, often operates with tracking devices turned off, causing a collision hazard.

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At least 40 others, all hiding from sanctions, most probably well hidden behind layers of blind trusts, dummy corporations, and the usual. Plus the eight or so which have been seized by governments.