Superyachts of Roman Abramovich and other Putin oligarchs that were moved to Turkey to evade sanctions imposed as a result of the Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine were located.
Turkey is quickly becoming the haven of choice for oligarchs’ megayachts.
Eleven yachts are docked here, four of which belong to Roman Abramovich.
Beyond the reach of U.K., EU, and U.S. sanctions imposed on Putin’s cronies is the nation.
Roman Abramovich, escorted by four imposing bodyguards and accompanied by his family, entered the restaurant carefree.
The Russian tycoon has been hammered hard by sanctions; his strong ties to Vladimir Putin have led to charges that he has blood on his hands in Ukraine. However, according to onlookers, he appeared entirely at ease.
He ate and drank well, consuming steak chateaubriand and pricey red wine.
The proprietor of the CaesarEt Lounge steakhouse in the Turkish port of Gocek, Ramazan Cesaret, was astonished to discover the “globally famous” guest at his table.
The Letter In Gocek, Turkey, on Sunday, reporter Abul Taher walks next to Eclipse, a 533-foot yacht worth more than £400 million and owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich.
He admitted feeling anxious. These are difficult times for oligarchs with ties to the Kremlin.
However, Turkey is quickly becoming their preferred port of refuge for superyachts. Eleven of them, including four belonging to the former owner of Chelsea FC, are berthed here in violation of UK, EU, and US sanctions.
It also helps that the regime of president Recep Erdogan is close to Russia. Some of the yachts are still available for wealthy partygoers to charter.
At least one is crewed by British personnel. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Abramovich swiftly relocated his collection of boats, estimated to be worth £1.1 billion, from moorings throughout the world to this region of the Mediterranean.
Last week, The Mail on Sunday discovered two of them in Gocek. The Eclipse is a 533-foot, £400 million warship with two helicopter pads, two swimming pools, a disco, and an anti-missile system.
It was anchored approximately two miles from shore. There are only five or six crew members on board, as opposed to the typical 95.
According to Turkish media reports, the majority of employees quit after the imposition of sanctions since their payments went unpaid.
Abramovich’s 69-meter-long, £17-million Garcon was spotted in Turkey’s Azure Marina.
In the exclusive Azure Marina, we noticed Abramovich’s 219-foot-long, £17-million Garcon, whose Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder has been turned off since August 8 in an apparent attempt to escape detection.
Also thought to be at Gocek is the 180-foot-long, 32-million-pound Halo, owned by Roman Abramovich and flying the flag of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific.
My Solaris, the billionaire’s fourth superyacht, is anchored off the coast of Bodrum. It is 456 feet long, valued over £430 million, and is equipped with a helicopter, gym, spa, and multiple swimming pools.
Other oligarch yachts in Gocek’s azure seas include the Flying Fox, which is anchored adjacent to Garcon at Azure Marina.
The yacht of Russian oligarch Dmitry Kamenshchik, Flying Fox, is anchored in Gocek.
The 446-foot sailboat is owned by Dmitry Kamenshchik, a Putin loyalist and the head of Moscow Domodedovo airport, which has had its AIS turned off since August 3.
Since its landing in Gocek, it appears that the Flying Fox has restarted its charter service and has been rented at least three times for a staggering £3 million per week.
A naval security officer told The Mail on Sunday that an Arab royal had recently rented the vessel.
Turkey is popular, according to Rory Jackson, an expert at Vessels Value, since it “offers better sailing grounds” than Dubai, whose primary attraction is the city itself. It is also impervious to sanctions.
“When the sanctions were lifted, it was not the Mediterranean season, so the billionaires had time to consider where they could take their yachts,” he said.
Since the imposition of Western sanctions, residents and business owners in Gocek have conflicting feelings regarding the influx of Russians.
Romantic ties have been established between Russian oligarch Abramovich and Russian dancer Diana Vishneva.
The 54-year-old tour boat operator Sukru Aydin stated, “Of course these yachts are an issue.” First, they are anchored at sea and impeding our small boat. We cannot approach them due of their alarm systems.
However, some support exists. The proprietor of a boutique clothing store, Zeynep Ketenci, stated, “Of sure we have more Russians than last year. They are here because you intend to confiscate their belongings. This is a metric unit.
Mr. Cesaret, proprietor of the Caesar-Et Lounge, asserts that boats do generate commerce.
He stated that the predominantly British crew of the Flying Fox frequents his eatery. Sometimes they arrive in pairs, and sometimes there are thirty of them. After eating, they consume copious amounts of red wine. They have no regard for money.
When asked if Abramovich had enjoyed his supper, Mr. Cesaret displayed a gift brought to him by the billionaire the following day.
It was a plaque bearing the name Eclipse, commemorating a superyacht that evaded sanctions.