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A superyacht linked to a Russian oligarch left Norway after being there for more than six weeks.
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Ragnar, linked to former KGB agent Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, was on his way to Malta, tracking data showed.
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The yacht had problems in Norway because dockers refused to refuel the ship.
An $85 million superyacht linked to a Russian oligarch is on the move again after it moored in Norway for more than six weeks as dockers refused to refuel it.
Tracking site Marine Traffic shows that the 224-foot Ragnar left the Norwegian port city of Narvik on March 30 and is sailing for Malta, an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. At the time of writing, the yacht was off the west coast of Norway and heading southwest, per Marine Traffic.
Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, a former KGB agent allegedly linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is the owner of the Ragnar, according to SuperYacht Fan. Strzhalkovski is not on Western sanctions lists following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Ragnar docked in Narvik on February 15, but got stuck there when local suppliers refused to refuel the ship or otherwise do business with Strzhalkovsky, Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported at the time.
Refueling wasn’t the only problem the Ragnar faced in Norway. The yacht’s captain told The Wall Street Journal that the crew had to catch fish and barbecue because local businesses wouldn’t serve them.
The destination port for Ragnar, as stated by Marine Traffic, is Marsaxlokk, a small, picturesque fishing village in southeastern Malta.
Norway is not part of the European Union (EU), which has imposed sanctions on many wealthy Russians. However, the country has close relations with the EU and has incorporated some of the bloc’s sanctions into its own laws, according to the Norwegian government’s website.
Malta, on the other hand, is a member state of the EU. If the EU decides to impose sanctions on Strzhalkovsky, the Ragnar could risk being seized by the Maltese authorities.
Ragnar features a pool, spa, jacuzzi and helipad, and can accommodate a total of 30 guests and crew per SuperYacht fan.
Although Strzhalkovsky and his yacht are not subject to sanctions, sanctioned Russian oligarchs have fled to places such as Dubai and the Maldives, which have no extradition treaties with the US and other Western countries.
The Guardian reported that a Norwegian government official said Ragnar could be detained only if an EU directive supports the action.
Read the original article on Business Insider
