Attorneys representing the daughter of a U.S.-sanctioned Russian billionaire have requested access to the financial records of officials, including the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, in a U.S. federal court filing on Tuesday. The officials are under scrutiny for seizing and selling the family’s 265-foot megayacht, known as the Alfa Nero, and withholding documents related to the sale. The legal battle surrounding the Alfa Nero, which was anchored off Antigua for over two years, has attracted attention from potential buyers such as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
The megayacht, abandoned by Russian businessman Andrey Guryev, the founder of a fertilizer company, is being pursued by his daughter, Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov, who claims ownership rights. In the court filing, her attorneys are seeking documents and information regarding financial transactions involving seven individuals and twelve entities over the past five years. The goal is to uncover any potential backroom deals for personal gain that may have occurred during the sale of the Alfa Nero.
Among the individuals targeted in the investigation are Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, his family members, and government officials. The entities under scrutiny include the West Indies Oil Company Ltd., a petroleum company in Antigua, and Fancy Bridge Ltd., an investment firm based in Hong Kong with interests in the oil company.
The Alfa Nero was the subject of U.S. sanctions after Andrey Guryev was designated as a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the conflict in Ukraine, the vessel was prohibited from leaving Antigua for several months. Eventually, in 2024, the megayacht was sold at auction by the Antiguan government to an anonymous buyer for a fraction of its estimated value.
Private investigators later identified the buyers as Robert Yildirim and Ali Riza Yildirim of the Yildirim Group, a Turkish conglomerate, though the conglomerate has not responded to requests for comment. The sale of the Alfa Nero has raised questions about the handling of its proceeds and the involvement of government officials in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Prime Minister faced criticism from opposition party members who demanded information on how the proceeds were utilized, but have not yet received any details. D. Gisele Isaac, the chairperson of the opposition United Progressive Party, expressed frustration, stating, “The Prime Minister selectively shares information with the public.” She emphasized that crucial details, such as the identity of the buyer of Alfa Nero, have not been disclosed to them. Isaac highlighted challenges in accessing information, revealing that the information commissioner appointed last year lacks a physical office, hindering the ability to request information. She suggested that funds from the yacht sale should be allocated to support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
In contrast, Maria Browne, the Minister of Housing and wife of Prime Minister Browne, disclosed to The Antigua Observer newspaper in July 2024 that the proceeds were used to address government debt. However, concerns were raised over the allocation of nearly $10 million, which remains unaccounted for. Investigators encountered difficulties as sale documents were reportedly missing. Despite attempts to seek clarification, Gaston Browne did not respond to requests for comment.
Legal disputes surrounding Alfa Nero are ongoing in Russia and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. One case challenges the legality of the yacht’s seizure and sale, with Browne dismissing it as baseless. For more updates on Latin America and the Caribbean, visit https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america.
