Italy seizes oligarchs' villas and yachts to put pressure on Russia

Italian police have seized villas and yachts worth 143 million euros ($156 million) from five high-profile Russians

Italian police have seized villas and yachts worth 143 million euros ($156 million) from five high-profile Russians who were placed on sanctions lists following Moscow's attack on Ukraine, the government said on Saturday. 

Qazet.az reports that the luxury properties were sequestered in some of Italy's most prestigious retail estate locations - the island of Sardinia, by Lake Como and in Tuscany - while two superyachts were grabbed at their moorings in northern ports.

The police operations were part of a coordinated drive by Western states to penalise wealthy Russians and try to force President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine.

A list issued by Prime Minister Mario Draghi's office showed the most valuable asset now in police hands is a 65 metre (215 ft) yacht, the "Lady M", which has a price tag of 65 million euros and belonged to Russia's richest man, Alexey Mordashov.