They even changed the pads in the toilet. Maintenance of the arrested yacht of the Russian oligarch cost the US $30 million — WP

It is noted that on June 2, 2022, the United States government spent more than $12,000 to clean up the hull of Amadea. Six days later, taxpayers’ money was used to buy $52,000 worth of food for the 30 crew members of this vessel.

Five days later, 52,800 gallons of fuel were purchased for the yacht for $277,000 before its journey from Fiji to San Diego, where the yacht has been kept for two years at the expense of the Americans.

The newspaper obtained more than 1,300 pages of documents detailing how the US government has held the $325 million Russian superyacht since its seizure in Fiji in May 2022.

WP notes that at the time, the seizure of the yacht was billed as a “major victory” in President Joe Biden’s economic war against Russian dictator Vladimir Putin after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The United States claimed the yacht belonged to Russian gold mining tycoon Suleiman Kerimov, who has been under sanctions since 2018 as part of a broader US campaign against Putin’s allies, and sought its quick sale.

It was expected that the proceeds would be transferred to Ukraine for its defense. However, the Amadea yacht has not yet brought any funds to Ukraine — and its arrest had a certain downside — tens of millions of dollars in maintenance paid for by US taxpayers, the publication writes.

Until now, these costs have remained largely hidden from the public. However, documents obtained by the newspaper, as well as federal court filings, show that the United States has spent about $30 million to maintain Amadea since her arrest. This figure was later confirmed to the publication by a representative of the Ministry of Justice.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the United States seized assets of Kremlin oligarchs worth about 650 million dollars. However, most of that amount comes from Amadea and Tango, another Russian superyacht that is paid for by American taxpayers. The government was also unable to sell it.

According to the publication, the US government spent $30 million on:

• $12,458 went in June 2022 to clean the hull of the superyacht,
• At the same time, $52,717 was spent on meat, fish, dairy products, bread, spices and other products for the 30 crew members,
• $277,200 was paid by the U.S. government for fuel for the yacht’s passage from Fiji to San Diego,
• at least $3,000 for air travel;
• more than $4,000 was spent on rooms at the Wailoaloa Seascape Hotel in Fiji;
• thousands of dollars went to rent cars in Fiji;
• undisclosed sums went to support the pool, silk carpets and silk-upholstered furniture “in a constantly air-conditioned environment”, regular planned washing of the yacht, maintenance of the yacht by a specialized team with accommodation paid;
• over $1,000 worth of iPhone 11s for the ship’s captain’s bridge;
• Crew uniforms cost $988;
• $1,216 was spent in February 2023 on toilet mats and holders.

It said U.S. authorities cannot seize Amadea or other assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs unless a court finds they were used in a federal crime.

WP explains that the review of the issue of the withdrawal of such assets can take years. Until a decision is made, the yacht is maintained by the US government. There is a possibility that the United States will be forced to return the yacht to Kerimov without any compensation, the publication adds.

Despite significant costs, the value of the asset decreases. At the time of arrest, the yacht was valued at $325 million. According to the federal court, its value is currently 230 million dollars.