Forwarded from The Washington Post
Italy freezes $700-million megayacht linked to Putin
ROME — Italian financial authorities said Friday that they have frozen a $700-million megayacht that has been linked in media reports and by anti-Kremlin groups to Russian President Vladimir Putin. But an element of mystery remains: Italy, in its decree, did not say who the owner might be.
The move comes after Italian investigators had raced to investigate the vessel and prevent it from leaving the Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara. The yacht, known as the Scheherazade, had been undergoing repairs since before the Russia-launched war in Ukraine. But earlier this week, it had returned to the water, according to a New York Times reporter who visited the marina, prompting fears the vessel might depart and evade sanctions.
The ship, until the measures imposed Friday evening, would have been free to leave.
Read the full story here.
ROME — Italian financial authorities said Friday that they have frozen a $700-million megayacht that has been linked in media reports and by anti-Kremlin groups to Russian President Vladimir Putin. But an element of mystery remains: Italy, in its decree, did not say who the owner might be.
The move comes after Italian investigators had raced to investigate the vessel and prevent it from leaving the Tuscan port of Marina di Carrara. The yacht, known as the Scheherazade, had been undergoing repairs since before the Russia-launched war in Ukraine. But earlier this week, it had returned to the water, according to a New York Times reporter who visited the marina, prompting fears the vessel might depart and evade sanctions.
The ship, until the measures imposed Friday evening, would have been free to leave.
Read the full story here.
Joseph Ward Clark will go down in history as the first and the only US soldier killed twice in Ukraine 😂
Russian military propaganda 'killed' non-existened US mercenary for the second time! 'First killing' was a month ago in Mariupol where he 'fought' for Azov and yesterday in Rubezhnoe 'along with 6 other US mercenaries'. Russian fakes are so stoopid, a schoolboy can spot them!)))
Russian military propaganda 'killed' non-existened US mercenary for the second time! 'First killing' was a month ago in Mariupol where he 'fought' for Azov and yesterday in Rubezhnoe 'along with 6 other US mercenaries'. Russian fakes are so stoopid, a schoolboy can spot them!)))
Forwarded from The Washington Post
Who is Viktor Bout, Russian arms dealer eyed in rumored prisoner swap?
The fate of two Americans detained in Russia could depend on what the U.S. government decides to do with an imprisoned Russian arms dealer nicknamed the “Merchant of Death.”
Viktor Bout, 55, is a former Soviet military translator who became an international air transport figure after the fall of communism. Bout is currently serving a 25-year sentence at a medium-security prison in Illinois for conspiring to kill U.S. nationals and selling weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The Kremlin has long pushed for Bout’s release, calling his conviction “unlawful.” And in recent weeks, media reports in Russia have hinted that he could be swapped for WBNA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
Read the full story here.
The fate of two Americans detained in Russia could depend on what the U.S. government decides to do with an imprisoned Russian arms dealer nicknamed the “Merchant of Death.”
Viktor Bout, 55, is a former Soviet military translator who became an international air transport figure after the fall of communism. Bout is currently serving a 25-year sentence at a medium-security prison in Illinois for conspiring to kill U.S. nationals and selling weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The Kremlin has long pushed for Bout’s release, calling his conviction “unlawful.” And in recent weeks, media reports in Russia have hinted that he could be swapped for WBNA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
Read the full story here.