The US is provided permission by Fiji’s High Court to take a superyacht that allegedly belongs to Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov.

Fiji’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed for its restraint and moved to register the US warrant.

The vessel, known as the Amadea, has been prohibited from leaving Fijian waters since mid-April.

According to a statement, Justice Deepthi Amaratunga granted the US request to seize the superyacht.

The yacht is registered to Millemarin Investments Ltd, says DPP spokeswoman.

Therefore, the US claims it is “beneficially” held by Kerimov.

The ownership dispute will presumably be resolved in a US court.

Millemarin is yet to respond.

Millemarin’s defence lawyer, Feizal Haniff, requested the court for a stay following the ruling.

“There is some indication that American authorities are wanting to take this boat away,” Haniff told.

“(The judge) said we have a right to appeal, and obviously he said that we will ensure that the boat is in Fiji while the stay application is filed.”