US moves to seize 2 planes believed to belong to Roman Abramovich

Federal authorities intend to seize two aircraft believed to be owned by Roman Abramovich, saying the Russian oligarch violated strict US export regulations linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to court filings. The planes — a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and a Gulfstream jet — were both manufactured in the United States and are valued at over $400m. In March, a few weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, Abramovich had the planes flown to Russia, and in one case to another country, without securing the necessary licenses or approval from the Bureau of Industry and Security, a unit of the Department of Commerce, the filings said. The Boeing was flown to the United Arab Emirates and the Gulfstream to Russia. Agents with the FBI traced the aircraft to Mr. Abramovich, who owns them through a series of shell companies in the British Virgin Islands, Cyprus and Isle of Jersey, according to an affidavit submitted in federal court in Manhattan in support of the seizure warrants. These moves stem from a new Department of Justice initiative, known as Task Force KleptoCapture, which was established in March to go after assets belonging to Russian oligarchs. It’s the first time the task force has taken action against Abramovich, who is believed to be one of Russia’s wealthiest industrialists, with an estimated net worth in excess of $13b. <br/>