Roman Abramovich’s superyacht Eclipse arrived in the port of Marmaris this week, epitomising in its 163 metre hull western concerns about Turkish reluctance to sign up to sweeping sanctions against Russia.
At a time when European governments have begun seizing yachts belonging to sanctioned oligarchs, the billionaire Chelsea Football Club owner appeared to view Turkey as a safe haven for Eclipse. Another of his vessels, the 140-metre My Solaris, arrived in Bodrum on Monday.
Selim Kuneralp, a former Turkish diplomat, urged his country to be careful about welcoming these vessels, writing in the online outlet Serbestiyet: “These superyachts could become a headache for our government.”