Spanish Supreme Court upholds seizure of Russian oligarch's yacht

The Spanish Supreme Court has upheld the seizure of the yacht Sasha I, which is linked to Russian magnate and lawmaker Vladimir Reznik. Reznik is among the individuals sanctioned by the European Union for his cooperation with the Kremlin following the invasion of Ukraine.

The legal challenge to the seizure was brought by Reznik’s ex-wife, Diana Gindin, a dual Russian and American citizen. Gindin has sought to recover the vessel, which was impounded in 2023, arguing that the company owning the yacht belongs exclusively to her following their divorce settlement.

In its ruling, the Court rejected claims that the seizure was a judicial error motivated by political indignation regarding the war in Ukraine, calling such arguments “unsustainable” without robust proof. The Court maintained that previous rulings were correct, noting that the complex network of companies used by the couple did not appear to have been legitimately dissolved following the divorce in a manner that notified European authorities.