SOLARIS, the super-yacht of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich was spotted sailing south of the island of Crete on Friday afternoon.
According to Greece’ state broadcaster ERT, the yacht was located in international waters, the route used also by many tankers.
The reporter of ERT from Chania hinted, even though “with reservation”, that the Solaris may have refueled during the sailing, as the Russian tanker “Vvasma” was sailing in the area as well.
According to tracker marinetraffic.com, the Bermuda-flagged Solaris is sailing in unknown direction “awaiting orders,” yet to the East.
earlier via zarpanews.gr
The yacht was in Barcelona on Tuesday and left when the UK brought sanctions against Abramovich who feared the seizure of his boat. The yacht sailed south of Sicily “with unknown destination”, when it finally stated that it would reach Tivat in Montenegro. From there it then left and was on Friday south of Crete.
ERT reported at its 9 o’ clock news magazine that port authorities on Crete have not received any request for docking and that if there would be such a request they would consult withother authorities in Athens, including the Foreign Ministry.
The European Union has not imposed sanctions against the owner.
UPDATE: Sunday afternoon, March 20, the SOLARIS was spotted south-east of the island of Rhodes and it seems as if it is sailing toward Turkey.
Solaris is 140 meters long, with 48 cabins on eight decks and can accommodate crew of 60 people and up to 36 people.
Media note that Roman Abramovich is probably in Moscow, where he was found a few days ago, flying with his private jet from Tel Aviv via Istanbul.
PS why exactly are we chasing the yachts of Russian oligarchs?
Why are we chasing the yachts of Russian oligarchs? Because taking the very expensive toys off those who are very closely connected to Putin upsets those people and so puts pressure directly on him from those closest to him. That’s why.
“PS why exactly are we chasing the yachts of Russian oligarchs?”
The western powers are sanctioning in any way they can the oligarchs who support Putin. For an oligarch to operate in Russia, own a Russian company and make enormous wealth there are two basic rules:
1 Do not get involved in politics.
2 Pay a percentage of your profits to Putin.
Despots like Putin are normally overthrown eventually from within, not deposed from outside.
They are chasing the oligarchs because it is easy. I don’t pity the oligarchs, they robbed Russia. But one oligarch said the other day that they don’t have any influence on Putin at all. That oligarch (Fridman) now complains he has to live of 2.500 euro per month. Well, boohoohoo. Putin pulls all the strings and doesn’t need the oligarchs. Perhaps the West is doing Putin a favor.
Perhaps (or not) Roman Abramovich (who also holds Israeli and Portuguese citizenships) is looking at purchasing some islands in the Aegean, and this is an oligarchs way of “viewing”.
We are chasing the yachts of oligarchs and welcoming the yachts of arms dealers, etc etc. The hypocrisy in this world right now is mindboggling!
Surely it is time to remove British, American, etc., etc. citizenship from these Russian criminals so that they cannot come and go as they please. Let them stay in Russia with their Presidential buddy.