The Dutch authorities have temporarily seized 14 Russian superyachts as part of the sanctions against Russia. Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra told the House of Representatives in The Hague on Wednesday that these ships may not leave the shipyards. According to the information, there are currently twelve yachts under construction at Dutch yards, two more in the country for maintenance work.
According to the minister, the luxury ships are subject to European sanctions rules. Who the owners are has not been disclosed. The minister also said that since the sanctions were imposed, EUR 516 million in Russian assets have been blocked and EUR 155 million in transactions have been prevented.
Sanctions started slowly
The foreign minister was heavily criticized by parliament after the implementation of the sanctions got off to a slow start. According to media calculations, Russian companies and oligarchs in the Netherlands have a balance sheet total of about 80 billion euros. The Netherlands is considered a tax haven because of favorable tax rules for companies.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
