The Cabinet spokesman has taken a swipe at the claimant in the latest legal
challenge brought against the government in the sale of the Alfa Nero, saying she
likely stands to lose whatever the outcome.
Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov is the daughter of Russian Oligarch Andrey Gurvey and
claims to be the sole shareholder in a Guernsey-based trust that is the only
shareholder in the Flying Dutchman Limited that owns the superyacht. As such,
she is laying claim to the Alfa Nero and has retained the services of Dr. David
Dorsett to represent her cause in the High Court.
With the matter yet to be heard, Cabinet Spokesman the Honourable Melford
Nicholas on Thursday maintained that adequate time was given for claims to be
made and that period has long expired. He said even if the court rules against the
government, it will not be a simple handing over of the Alfa Nero, since the initial
sanctions placed on the vessel will likely be re-instituted.
“It is quite opportunistic now for these other persons who are staging these court
cases to be saying that they are the rightful owners. If they for one moment hold
the view that should they prevail and they are still part of the sanctioned group of
persons that that craft will not go back unto a sanctions list and be subject to what
it was prior to all of this actions we have taken, I think they’re living in fairyland,”
the information minister asserted.
In June, the United States removed the Alfa Nero from its sanctions list, following
in-depth discussions between Antiguan and Barbudan and US officials. This made
it possible for the vessel to be placed on the auction block after it was compulsorily
acquired earlier.
However, the latest legal challenge, along with the drawn-out process has caused
American billionaire and former Google Executive Eric Schmidt to withdraw from
the purchase of the Alfa Nero, after his bid of US$67 million was accepted
approximately three months ago.
Despite the setbacks, the government insists the vessel was legally acquired and
will be sold.
“We are still encumbered by these legal challenges and we’re going to have to
determine how we go forward from there. But the thing to do is not to lose sight of
what the ultimate objective is that the craft, has been confiscated, as a result of the
abandonment in our waters and it has brought with it the possibility that it can
become an environmental challenge, not only to our marine environment, but to
our tourism facilities as well,” Minister Nicholas reiterated.
The matter came up for hearing in the High Court of Justice on Wednesday and
will continue on 18 th December, 2023.
