Russian Superyachts Find Safe Haven in Turkey, Raising Concerns in Washington

Elif Ince, Michael Forsythe and Carlotta Gall - Yesterday 10:37 PM

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PORT AZURE, Turkey — On a hot August evening at a marina on Turkey’s southern coast, the crew of the
Flying Fox was hard at work, keeping the 446-foot superyacht immaculate for future guests willing to
pay $3 million a week. One crew member leaned over the railing at the stern, wiping the highly polished
surface next to the ship’s nameplate. Another was busy with a squeegee, cleaning glass.

Solaris, a superyacht linked to the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, in the Yalıkavak Bay in Bodrum,
Turkey, in August.

Solaris, a superyacht linked to the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, in the Yalıkavak Bay in Bodrum,
Turkey, in August.

© Elif Ince for The New York Times

The Flying Fox, the world’s biggest yacht available for charter, played host last year to Beyoncé and Jay-
Z, who skipped the Met Gala in New York to cruise the Mediterranean and enjoy the vessel’s over-the-
top amenities: a 4,300-square-foot wellness center with a Turkish bath and a fully equipped beauty spa,
among many others.

Then Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, the Flying Fox has been caught up in the dragnet of
international sanctions designed to hobble the lifestyles of the oligarchs who help sustain President
Vladimir V. Putin’s rule.

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Yet, while some superyachts owned by or linked to Russian oligarchs facing sanctions have been seized
in ports around the world, the Flying Fox and others caught up in the broader Russia penalties have
found safe haven in Turkey, the only NATO member not to impose sanctions on Russia.
Eclipse, another superyacht linked to Mr. Abramovich, off the shore of Göcek, Turkey.

Eclipse, another superyacht linked to Mr. Abramovich, off the shore of Göcek, Turkey.

© Elif Ince for The New York Times

The flotilla of Russian superyachts in Turkish waters is raising tensions with the United States, which
sees Turkey’s welcoming of the vessels as a symptom of the much larger problem: Russia’s access to
Turkey’s financial system, potentially undermining Western sanctions.
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