Medvedchuk received a new yacht in Russia for almost $8 million after exchange for Azov fighters
The recipient of the yacht in Russia was JSC "Renaissance", owned by Oksana Marchenko
Former Ukrainian MP Viktor Medvedchuk, who is called Putin's "godfather," has received a new yacht worth 886 million rubles ($8 million) in Russia after he was exchanged for Azov fighters, the opposition media Verstka reports, citing customs data.
The yacht in question is a Pershing 9X, which the manufacturer, the Italian Ferretti Group, calls a "fighter." The 28-meter-long vessel with four cabins and eight beds called Amore Mio was launched in 2023.
According to documents, the vessel passed Russian customs on July 26. The yacht entered Russian territorial waters under the flag of Palau, and its sender is Lavel Fzco from the UAE. The recipient of the yacht in Russia was JSC Renaissance, the beneficial owner of which was a citizen of Ukraine, Oksana Marchenko, Medvedchuk's wife. This follows from the audit report of February 24, 2021.
Customs data shows that the Renaissance company formalized the "temporary importation" of the yacht to Russia. This procedure is usually used when the stay of goods in the customs territory is inexpedient on a permanent basis. It also exempts the declarant from paying customs duties.
After the invasion began, Medvedchuk was detained by the SBU on suspicion of treason. According to the intelligence service, he could have played a key role in Putin's decision to launch a war against Ukraine. In particular, he convinced the president of pro-Russian sentiment among Ukrainians.
In September 2022, Moscow agreed to exchange the detained Medvedchuk for the captured soldiers of the Azov battalion.
Background. As reported, the SBU and the BES uncovered a scheme of illegal fuel production involving Medvedchuk's godfather.
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