Where Oligarchs Have Found Safe Harbors

Bodrum ho! It isn’t just how many oligarchic super-yachts have found safe harbor on the sanctions-free Turkish coast—according to an investigation by The Times of London, “at least ten yachts that are believed to be owned by tycoons under sanctions or on a US government list of oligarchs close to President Putin are languishing across Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines,” the total value of those yachts “estimated at £2.2 billion [$2.5 billion], greater than the estimated value of the superyachts that have so far been successfully impounded under international sanctions.” No, what’s really eyebrow-raising is that a significant chunk of that informal fleet apparently belongs to the former Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich.

His £403 million [$465 million] Solaris (eight decks, 48 cabins, 20 jet skis, helicopter, anti-missile defense system, etc., etc.) is lurking just off Bodrum, and more of the Abramovich flotilla isn’t too far off. “Another of Abramovich’s suspected yachts, the £363 million [$420 million] Eclipse, was anchored off the Turkish Göcek Island this week,” the newspaper said. “The 533ft Eclipse was the world’s largest private yacht when Abramovich bought it in 2010 and is reported to have a mini-submarine and missile launchers. Two of his smaller yachts, Halo and Garcon, are also located off the Turkish coast.” For perspective: Garçon is a mere 220 feet long, and Halo a rather embarrassing 188. Dinghies, essentially.