Italian police seize world's biggest sailing yacht owned by Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko in Cold War frontier port of Trieste
Italian police have seized a superyacht from Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko, the prime minister's office said on Saturday, a few days after the businessman was placed on an EU sanctions list following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The 470-foot Sailing Yacht A, which has a price tag of £450m has been sequestered at the northern port of Trieste, the government said.The yacht has been placed in a special dry dock which has been emptied to prevent the vessel from being taken away.
Triesete was mentioned in Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech of March 5, 1946, when the war time leader outlined the front line of the Cold War.
Melnichenko's yacht was designed by Philippe Starck and built by Nobiskrug in Germany. It is the world's biggest sailing yacht.
Andrey Melnichenko had his £450 million vessel Sailing Yacht A seized in Cold War frontier port Trieste this morning. The vessel, pictured this morning, is the world's largest sailing yacht
Sailing Yacht A, was registered in the UK by its owner. Melnichenko denies he has any political affiliations and suggested there is 'no justification' for placing him on the EU sanction list
Melnichenko's yacht had been earlier photographed in Venice on March 5
Andrey Melnichenko, pictured with is wife Aleksandra, right, was placed on the EU sanctions list on Wednesday because he attended a televised meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine
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