A High Court judge, on Thursday, rejected an application for an injunction seeking
to halt the sale of the super yacht, Alfa Nero.
The development is the latest in a series of legal successes following the
government’s announcement of its plans to sell the vessel by way of a closed-bid
auction. The auction was completed earlier this month, before a LIVE television
and radio audience.
The applicant, Yulia Gurieva Motlokhov, a Russian citizen asserting ownership
rights over the yacht, was denied the injunction.
This victory adds to the Government's string of legal successes, as they had
previously emerged victorious in all court proceedings against Flying Dutchman
Overseas Limited, whose attempt to secure an injunction also failed.
The several legal challenges included one that was filed before the Privy Council
in London and was similarly dismissed.
The Antigua and Barbuda government passed legislation, giving it the right to
seize the vessel, as it posed an economic and environmental threat to the country.
With the hurricane season approaching, the government said this action was
necessary so that the vessel could be moved from the Antigua Yacht Marina where
it had been abandoned for over a year.
Before proceeding with the sale, the government had to first obtain legislation from
the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), as the vessel was
believed to have been owned by a Russian oligarch whom the US placed on the
sanctioned list, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year February.
The legislation, adopted by the government to proceed with the seizure and
eventual sale of the vessel, was carefully followed by the Antigua Port Authority,
the executing agency with the advice of a team of young legal professionals in the
Office of the Attorney General.
The Attorney General's Chambers anticipates a prompt resolution of the remaining
legal matters.
The winning bid for the vessel has been made by American billionaire Eric
Schmidt, who acquired it for a sum of US$67.06 million.
