How the Left Tackles Russian Oligarchs - €600M Superyacht Dilbar Seized: EU Sanctions Battle with Oligarch Usmanov
The luxury superyacht Dilbar, worth an estimated €600 million, has been at the centre of a political storm. The 156-meter vessel, capable of hosting 36 guests across nearly 4,000 square meters, was impounded by authorities under EU sanctions. The Dilbar is legally owned by a Bermuda foundation, but its ultimate owner, Russian-Uzbek oligarch Alisher Usmanov, has been accused of close ties to President Putin.
The Dilbar was towed to its home shipyard in Bremen after being impounded. Usmanov, worth over $20 billion, has been labeled a 'Kremlin-friendly oligarch' by the EU and placed on its sanctions list. The Left Party in Hamburg called for the seizure of the yacht in March 2022, alleging it was owned by Usmanov despite his claims of no connection to the Bermuda foundation.
Federal police raided Usmanov's villa on Lake Tegernsee in September 2022 as part of an investigation into suspected money laundering, tax evasion, and sanctions violations. Usmanov's law firm sent a cease-and-desist declaration to the Left Party, demanding they retract false claims about him owning the Dilbar. The Left Party refused to sign the declaration and hired its own law firm to challenge Usmanov's claims.
The Dilbar remains under investigation, with authorities determining its true ownership and potential sanctions violations. Usmanov, who moved to Moscow for studies and later became a trade official in Tashkent, has maintained his innocence. The political and legal battle surrounding the Dilbar continues, with the Left Party determined to expose any wrongdoing and the EU committed to enforcing its sanctions.
