Another of Roman Abramovich 's super-yachts has docked in southwest Turkey as the Chelsea owner looks to evade sanctions.
The 55-year-old, who is hoping to sell the Blues over the coming weeks, has faced personal repercussions following the invasion of Ukraine, but Turkey is one country not applying sanctions to his native Russia. As reported by the Associated Press and Turkish media, Abramovich's Bermuda-registered Eclipse docked at a port in the resort of Marmaris on Tuesday.
His first luxury yacht, My Solaris, arrived in the nearby resort of Bodrum a day earlier which triggered a protest by a group of Ukrainians, who boarded a small motor boat in attempt to prevent the vessel from docking, as Russia enters its fourth week of attacks.
Efforts are being made to freeze assets belonging to Russian businessmen linked to president Vladimir Putin, with Chelsea now effectively under the control of the UK government as a result of Downing Street's own sanctions for the oligarch. The European Union last week updated their list of individuals facing punishments over ties to the Kremlin which included Abramovich.
Turkey, a member of NATO, has a unique position in the conflict as the country has close links to both Russia and Ukraine. It has gone on record to criticise Moscow's invasion, but has also positioned itself as a neutral party that is trying to mediate between the two nations.
Abramovich, meanwhile, is monitoring the takeover process at Chelsea which is expected to be completed before the end of the current season. The Russian billionaire has had the keys to Stamford Bridge since 2003, paying £140million for the Blues before super-charging them to the top of European football.
But now Abramovich is set to relinquish control, although it is claimed that he will have the final say on which bidder succeeds him in west London. British property tycoon Nick Candy, who himself has lodged an offer in the region of £2.5billion to buy the club, told The Sun : "Although it's a sanctioned club, Roman gets the decision on where it goes.
"People might not like that, but it's his club still - it's sanctioned - but it's his club." As for Chelsea's first team, manager Thomas Tuchel insists that his squad have accepted their situation and are keen to continue their good run of form which has seen them win six successive games since Abramovich announced that he was selling the club.
"I'm impressed with the players' focus. We accepted the [ownership] situation because we didn't cause it," the Blues boss said after their 2-0 win at Middlesbrough set up an FA Cup semi-final clash with Crystal Palace. "It isn't in our hands, but it was important we showed the right spirit and took responsibility. This is very, very good. If you have the talent, it is a responsibility to show it."
Tuchel added: "I feel very privileged, but there are 700 or 800 people working at Chelsea and they are very worried about their position so it is my responsibility to show the right spirit and positivity in a situation we did not cause and cannot change. The players have huge talent but with it comes huge responsibility and they are doing it for the people at Chelsea."
