US authorities are set to seize a $90 million plane and a $156 million yacht owned by Russian billionaire Andrei Skoch

The US authorities have officially obtained an injunction to seize a private plane worth $90 million owned by the sanctioned Russian billionaire Andrei Skoch, according to the Associated Press and several other outlets. Like many similar seizures reported in recent months, the warrant was obtained in response to Skoch’s alleged support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, Skoch is said to have been on the US sanctions list for much longer than that. He first found himself on the list in 2018, then for his support of the previous Russian invasion of Crimea, as well as his alleged links to organized crime.

It seems that Scotch’s time as the official owner of his Airbus A319-100, believed to be located somewhere in Kazakhstan, is coming to an end. Authorities believe he tried to evade punishment by maintaining ownership of the plane through a complex network of various shell companies and trusts – a practice typical of those who own such massive assets as giant private jets and luxury yachts. The latter includes the luxury yacht Madame Gu, shown below, with a volume of 156 million dollars, which is currently docked somewhere in the United Arab Emirates, which the authorities are also seeking to seize from Skoch (as a neutral party in the Russian war against Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates became Something… a safe haven for Russian oligarchs like Scotch).

Hugh Peterswald/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Andrew C.

“Once again, US law enforcement has proven that international missile games will not be enough to hide the fruits of corruption and money laundering.”

Scotch’s net worth of $8.7 billion makes him one of the richest people serving in the Russian State Duma, which is their version of Parliament. As of this writing, Scotch has not publicly commented on the sanctions or on efforts by US officials to seize his plane or yacht.



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