Putin's alleged $700M yacht is ready to set sail. Despite EU sanctions

"Returning Putin's yacht is simply unconscionable" - Russian journalist and anti-corruption activist Maria Pevchikh opined on website X. She alerted that in Italy, refurbishments of the "Sheherezade", allegedly owned by the dictator and valued at 500 million euros, have concluded. It may soon depart the Apennine Peninsula.

The anti-corruption activist contends that the refabrication of the ship's interior and the extension of the mast have reached completion. This suggests that, notwithstanding EU sanctions, someone invested millions of euros to refurbish the yacht, which is situated at Marina di Carrara, in Tuscany. Pevchikh underscores that the crew of the 459-feet yacht remains employed, anticipating a return to duties - as reported on the vot-tak.tv website.

- Allowing the "Sheherezade" to slip away, for whatever reason, would be the Italian government's biggest blunder. It would significantly undermine the EU's sanction policy. This cannot transpire. You can't simply return Putin's yacht, it's downright absurd - Pevchikh stated on social portal X.

Last March, shortly after Russia's incursion into Ukraine, the "New York Times" reported that the "Sheherezade" features two helicopter decks and is loaded with satellite devices. It possesses a pool with a retractable cover, a gym, and bathrooms that gleam with gold-plated fittings. It was conjectured that the yacht is owned by Vladimir Putin or a magnate from his close circle.

Supporters of Alexei Navalny insist that the actual owner of the vessel is Vladimir Putin, and they have undertaken several investigations regarding this. In one of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) reports, information about the ship's crew was unveiled, revealing all members to be employees of the Federal Protective Service of the Russian Federation (FSO).