Spain seizes 12 bank accounts, 3 yachts, 23 properties belonging to Russians

Spanish authorities have frozen 12 bank accounts and funds and seized three yachts and 23 properties belonging to Russian oligarchs since the war broke out in Ukraine, the prime minister’s chief of staff said Monday.

Speaking in the Spanish parliament, Oscar Lopez said the assets have been seized in line with the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russian oligarchs.

Over the last two months, Spanish authorities have seized the yachts of billionaires Viktor Vekselberg, Alexander Mikheev and Sergey Chemezov.
But Spain’s actions against oligarchs have reportedly been limited due to a legal loophole that shields the identities of company owners.

According to the El Pais daily, the government is planning to pass new measures that could help unveil the true ownership of more suspicious assets and lead to significantly more seizures.