It looks like the US got an unexpected bonus after seizing and taking legal possession of the $300 million Amadea superyacht that used to belong to sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov. While searching the vessel, they discovered a rare, multimillion-dollar Fabergé egg.
The US seized the 350-foot Amadea when it was docked in Fiji two months ago. After a frenzied legal battle, Amadea departed to the United States after a court in Fiji ordered its removal. The US sailed her to Hawaii to refuel before sailing off to San Diego. It is now docked at the Port of San Diego National City Marine Terminal, proudly flying the US flag.
US deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco said the egg was one of the more “interesting” finds her team has made. For those who don’t know, Fabergé eggs were handcrafted by the House of Fabergé from 1885 to 1917 for members of the Russian royal family and other elite individuals. Of the 69 or so produced, it is estimated only 57 are still in existence. The coveted gem-encrusted eggs are icons of luxury valued in the tens of millions of dollars.
In addition to seizing the superyacht and Fabergé egg, the US also froze more than $1 billion of Kerimov’s funds hidden in a Delaware-based investment company call Heritage Trust.
Suleiman Kerimov is a member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Kerimov represents the Republic of Dagestan in the Russian government’s upper chamber. He just happens to be a politician that’s worth $11.2 billion, according to Forbes. He was sanctioned by the US in 2018 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
“We’re working with our law enforcement counterparts around the world to conduct searches on these yachts to make sure we have the authority and can go to a court, seize them and then forfeit the proceeds.” – US deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco
Miss Monaco adds that the proceeds from the sale of seized assets could potentially be funneled back to help the people in Ukraine, and authority to do that had been requested from Congress.