Russian consulate in Hong Kong given advanced notice for arrival of superyacht linked to sanctioned billionaire
- Russia’s top envoy in city says he ‘fully agrees’ with decision by Hong Kong Marine Department to refrain from implementing sanctions issued by third country
- Washington and Beijing have locked horns over superyacht’s arrival, with US saying Hong Kong’s reputation is at stake
Russian envoys in Hong Kong received advanced notice regarding the arrival of a superyacht linked to a sanctioned oligarch in the city’s waters, the Post learned on Monday.
Igor Sagitov, consul general of the Russian Federation in Hong Kong, confirmed the consulate had been aware in advance of superyacht Nord’s arrival. The vessel is believed to be owned by Alexei Mordashov, a steel and mining tycoon considered an ally of the country’s president, Vladimir Putin.
The oligarch was sanctioned by the European Union, Britain and the United States following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
The top envoy also said he “fully agreed” with the Hong Kong Marine Department’s decision to refrain from implementing sanctions issued by a third country.
The department on Friday said Hong Kong had neither implemented “unilateral sanctions imposed by other jurisdictions” nor possessed the legal authority to enforce them.
