The New York Times: Russian superyachts make Turkey a safe harbor

The New York Times, one of the leading newspapers in the USA, wrote about the Russian superyachts in Turkey. In the news titled "Russian superyachts have made Turkey a safe harbor, this situation raises concerns in Washington", it was reported that the USA was disturbed by the invalidation of the sanctions imposed on Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine. It was also reminded that Ankara is the only NATO country administration that does not declare sanctions against this country.

It was estimated that the Flying Fox (Flying Fox), worth hundreds of millions of dollars, owned by Russian oligarch Dmitry Kamenshchik, was not the only luxury yacht that came to Turkey to escape sanctions, and that at least 13 boats in total were in this position as of October 20.

4 of them belong to the people on the sanction list, and 9 belong to the Imperial company on the same list...

The Monaco-based company charters these boats. A spokesperson for Imperial Yachts stated that after being the target of sanctions in June, its customers canceled their contracts and could no longer do this business in Turkish territorial waters.

It has been reported that 4 boats associated with the famous businessman Roman Abramovic, for which the European Union and Britain have sanctioned, are in Turkey.

It has been claimed that at least 32 boats affiliated with oligarchs and sanctioned institutions have entered Turkey's territorial waters in recent months without fear of seizure.

In the news, which stated that the menus are in Turkish and English as well as in Russian, it was reminded that the Port Azure marina special for mega yachts was opened in Göcek last year, and it was claimed that at least 8 boats on the sanction list of the West anchored here this summer.

Daniel Tannebaum, who used to work as a sanctions expert at the US Treasury, argued that Washington could target Russian oligarchs in Turkish territorial waters if it wanted to. Tannebaum said that by imposing sanctions on marinas and fuel companies that serve the boats, they could force Russian and American boats to move elsewhere.

The US fears that Russia will circumvent the sanctions through Turkey. In August, the US Treasury Department first warned Ankara about this issue, and then sent a warning letter to companies in Turkey with the signature of Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo. In the letter, it was emphasized that companies that do business with the Russians, which the USA has sanctioned, are at risk of sanctions. Afterwards, many banks in Turkey announced that they were exiting the Russian payment system MIR.

Finally, a senior official from the US Treasury Department visited Turkey last week to discuss the sanctions and export restrictions imposed on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement by the US Treasury Department, Elizabeth Rosenberg, the official responsible for financing terrorist organizations and financial crimes, visited Ankara and Istanbul from the beginning of the week to Wednesday, where she met with her counterparts, including officials from the ministries of finance and foreign affairs, as well as private companies operating in the field of finance and trade. It was stated that he met with industry representatives.