The US government is seeking to seize more than $75 million worth of properties that are linked to a Russian oligarch and accused of laundering money for the Putin regime. The move comes as the Biden administration takes a hard line against Russia for its alleged meddling in the 2020 presidential election and other activities. The properties, located in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and elsewhere, are owned by Viktor Vekselberg and are said to have been used to launder funds from foreign sources. In this article, we’ll take a look at the actions taken by the US government and what this means for relations between the two countries moving forward.
Who is the oligarch in question?
The oligarch in question is Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire with close ties to the Kremlin. Deripaska has been accused of money laundering, racketeering, and bribery, and the U.S. government is seeking to seize $20 million worth of his assets.
What assets are they looking to seize?
The United States government is seeking to seize $50 million worth of properties linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. The assets include a Manhattan apartment, a yacht, and a private jet. The action is part of a larger effort to target Russia’s wealthiest individuals in response to the Kremlin’s alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Deripaska, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is one of several oligarchs named in a U.S. Treasury Department sanctions list released in April 2018. The Treasury Department accused Deripaska of “enriching himself and his allies” through “corrupt operations” and said he had “direct links” to senior Russian officials.
The U.S. government’s asset forfeiture complaint, filed in federal court in New York on Wednesday, alleges that Deripaska used proceeds from his illicit activities to purchase the three properties.
The Manhattan apartment, located at Trump World Tower, is valued at $35 million. The yacht, named after Deripaska’s daughter Ekaterina, is worth an estimated $18 million. And the private jet is valued at $5 million.
Deripaska has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime in connection with the U.S. investigation into Russia’s election interference.
How did the government link these properties to the oligarch?
In court documents, the government alleges that Mr. Deripaska acquired the properties with money he obtained through a pattern of criminal activity. Specifically, the government alleges that Mr. Deripaska engaged in racketeering, money laundering, and conspiracy.
According to the government, Mr. Deripaska used shell companies and frontmen to acquire and maintain control over the properties. The government also alleges that he used his position as a prominent Russian oligarch to influence public officials and obtain favors from them.
What does this mean for the future of US-Russian relations?
The U.S. government has filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking to seize more than $50 million worth of properties in New York and Virginia that it alleges are linked to a Russian oligarch and used to launder money stolen from the Russian government.
The action is the latest step in a years-long investigation into the activities of Igor Sechin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the country’s largest oil company, Rosneft.
According to the complaint, filed in federal court in Manhattan, Sechin orchestrated a scheme to embezzle $2 billion from Rosneft between 2011 and 2014, using offshore shell companies and bank accounts to launder the money.
Some of the laundered funds were used to purchase luxury real estate in New York and Virginia, including a Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park and a waterfront estate on Long Island Sound, the complaint alleges.
The U.S. government is seeking to seize those properties, as well as others that were purchased with laundered money, including an apartment in Moscow and stakes in two Russian oil companies.
The action comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Russia over election meddling, cyberattacks and other issues. It is likely to further complicate efforts by President Trump to improve relations with Moscow.
Conclusion
The US government’s attempt to seize $75 million worth of properties linked to a Russian oligarch is a clear demonstration of its commitment in pursuing justice and preventing those with malicious intentions from profiting from their actions. This move highlights the importance of making sure that all individuals, regardless of status or wealth are held accountable for their actions and that good governance and fairness is maintained within our society. The US government will continue to take stringent measures whenever it deems necessary in order to ensure that justice prevails.
