France seizes yacht belonging to head of Rosneft and a close aide of Putin

France seized a yacht belonging to Igor Sechin, the chief of energy giant Rosneft and a close aide of President Putin, greekcitytimes.com reports.

Others on the list, include Igor Sechin, 61, the chief executive of Rosneft, the state oil company and one of the world’s biggest crude oil producers.

He is described by the EU as “one of Vladimir Putin’s most trusted and closest advisers, as well as his personal friend” who is in contact with him on a daily basis.

“Igor Sechin’s Rosneft was involved in financing the vineyards of the palace complex near Gelendzhik, which is considered to be personally used by President Putin,” the EU text noted.

A former KGB colleague of Putin’s, Nikolay Tokarev, 71, who is chief executive of Transneft, a prominent Russian oil and gas company, is also sanctioned.

The text said: “He is Vladimir Putin’s long-time acquaintance and close associate. He served together with Putin in the KGB in the 1980s. Mr. Tokarev is one of the Russian state oligarchs who grasped control over large state assets in the 2000s as President Putin consolidated power, and who operate in close partnership with the Russian state.

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