October 12, 2022
Northland luxury bach owner sanctioned
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says she has tried to tailor sanctions against Russian oligarch Alexander Abramov so they don’t punish the New Zealand businesses whose livelihoods are connected with his business interests here.
Mr Abramov, who formed a relationship with Ngati Wai while developing a luxury lodge on his estate on the Northland coast, is one of 51 oligarchs included in a new round of sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s attempts to illegally annex parts of Ukraine.
Ms Mahuta says they’re members of Russia’s economic elite who own assets and provide services with economic or strategic relevance to Russia.
Mr Abramov is the founder and second largest shareholder of Evraz plc, a steel company that produces more than 25 percent of all Russian railway wheels and almost all of Russia’s rail lines.
While his representatives in New Zealand insist he has not played a role in the invasion and has not lived in Russia since 2016, Ms Mahuta says as a leading businessman with links to Russia’s political and economic elites she expects he has the influence to speak up and be heard.
“The extent to which Abramov’s investments have a link to Russia, the fact we’ve included Evraz in our sanctions because there is a potential link to Russia which we will not tolerate,” she says.
Mr Abramov and his family members will be subject to a travel ban, and their aircraft and vessels will be banned from entering New Zealand airspace and ports.