Investigators in Russia are anything but happy with a French appeals court. They’re pressing to overturn the court’s decision to release two megayachts reportedly owned by Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky.
It’s all related to a seizure that took place in February. French authorities seized two megayachts said to be Berezovsky’s that were docked in Golfe-Juan, France. The seizure took place at the request of Russian authorities. In addition, their representatives were present when the yachts were taken, the French authorities stated.
While neither yacht’s name was released at the time, the French newspaper Le Parisien reports that one is Thunder B (pictured). Berezovsky has denied that the yachts are his. “I have no yachts in France, I have only paintings,” he told news agencies in February.
Shortly after the seizure took place, it was appealed by Shift Line Limited. The UK-based, Russian-owned firm claims that it purchased both yachts two years ago. Earlier this month, a French appeals court sided with Shift Line. That decision spurred Russian investigators to file their own appeal about a week ago.
The new appeal is related to ongoing investigations into Berezovsky back in his native Russia. He has lived in self-imposed exile in England for several years. Russian authorities have tried unsuccessfully to have him extradited to face criminal charges on multiple fronts. These include embezzling.
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