Inside Everton-linked Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov’s £455m superyacht with £30m gold staircase
THE enormous wealth stashed away by a Vladimir Putin crony who has escaped global sanctions can be revealed today — as investigators race to hunt his riches down.
Billionaire oligarch Alisher Usmanov, 68, has avoided the clampdown by moving billions of pounds worth of assets into other’s names - including his £455million ($600million) superyacht.
Luxury UK homes and aircraft owned by the mining tycoon had also been put into legal trusts “long ago”, gleeful aides crowed yesterday.
Investigators are now racing to prove his ties to assets like his 516ft boat Dilbar — which boasts a golden staircase costing £30million ($39million).
But Tory MP Bob Seely, an expert on Russian affairs, said last night: “We’re years behind on this.”
Uzbek-based Usmanov, who says he is “proud” to know Putin, was formally sanctioned by the UK on March 3.
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It was hoped tough measures would hit his huge wealth, built up over decades in British society.
His vast UK property portfolio includes a £73m mansion in Highgate, North London, two nearby worth at least £20m each, and a £30m property in Guildford, Surrey. He also owns a £265m private jet and a £4m helicopter.
But yesterday it emerged Usmanov had protected his fortune as far back as 16 years ago, when he started setting up his trusts.
As Putin continues to bomb Ukraine, we can reveal exclusive photos of Usmanov’s superyacht, said to be the biggest in the world and on which he visited the tyrant at his holiday home in Sochi.
The tacky floating palace, currently in Hamburg, boasts a 30m indoor pool, lined with blue crystals and adorned by palatial columns.
One of its luxury bedrooms shows Usmanov’s love of gold, with taps, door handles, bed frames, toilet seats and showers all kitted out in the precious metal.
The tycoon, who enjoyed close ties to Premier League club Everton, also had a vast “football lounge” to watch them wherever he was in the world.
Sources last night said the yacht’s £10m art collection was secretly removed before sanctions bit.
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A source close to the oligarch told The Sun that Putin had often visited him on the ship amid tight security.
The source said: “Usmanov and Putin are very good friends. Once or twice a year Usmanov would go down to Sochi with all the crew on board.
"It was always a very big deal and the crew would lock down on a deck. The phone signal was cut off, wi-fi was cut off.
“There were people with guns outside and armed security on every exit. Putin would come on and they would go out to sea for an hour or two.”
Last night the sanctions expert added: “For reasons that have nothing to do with sanctions, it’s made sense for many years for oligarchs to own a lot of their assets via trusts or other arms-length structures.
"It can be quite tricky to unpick those and it’s interesting but difficult work to do that, especially when it comes to things like yachts.
"Finding the assets alone can be incredibly hard. It’s time-consuming and expensive to do robustly.
“Until that resource is granted to the authorities, yes, the oligarchs will always be a step ahead.”
Mr Seely called for new laws to help investigators. He told The Sun: “We have several serious crime agencies in the UK.
"But they have to be properly funded and supported and they have to have the capability to go after those whom it’s in the public interest to pursue.
“If we’re always one step behind or afraid of the costs of bringing cases, we won’t be able to do the right thing for British people and for justice.
"At the moment those agencies are effectively fighting with their hands tied behind their backs, simply because we don’t have the structure, funding or laws in place.
“It’s why we need a new espionage bill and a new economic crime bill. We’re years behind.”
Last night a spokesman for Usmanov told The Sun: “All of the properties were settled into the irrevocable trusts long before the sanctions came, and this process had nothing to do with them.
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“Mr Usmanov built his capital transparently through successful businesses he created and through investments on the open market.
“Mr Usmanov has never acquired anything nor has he benefited from any government or state.”
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