PM’s Office Says No Jurisdiction for US Court Over Alfa Nero Case

PM’s Office Says No Jurisdiction for US Court Over Alfa Nero Case
Antigua asserts sovereignty as US discovery process begins in superyacht dispute

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has rejected attempts by a United States court to subpoena Prime Minister Gaston Browne in relation to the seizure and sale of the luxury yacht Alfa Nero, asserting that American courts have no jurisdiction over the matter.

Speaking at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Ambassador Lionel Max Hurst, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, confirmed that the government has no intention of complying with the legal request.

“The Prime Minister is not subject to the jurisdiction of any court in the United States,” Hurst said. “We do not expect him to respond to any subpoena issued in that matter.”

The statement comes amid ongoing legal proceedings in the United States involving the Alfa Nero, a superyacht formerly linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev. The vessel was docked in Antigua’s Falmouth Harbour for over a year before the government seized it in 2023, citing it as abandoned and a risk to public safety. It was later sold to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt for US$67.6 million.

Lawyers in the US are seeking to question Prime Minister Browne as part of a 90-day discovery period, arguing that his public statements and government decisions are central to the legal claims.

However, Antigua maintains that the matter falls squarely within its domestic jurisdiction, noting that the seizure and sale were executed through national legislation. The government has consistently defended the move as legal, transparent, and necessary.

Hurst reiterated that the Alfa Nero was handled in accordance with the laws of Antigua and Barbuda, and any challenges to that process should be addressed locally, not in a foreign court.

The case has drawn international attention due to the yacht’s high profile and the broader geopolitical implications of asset seizures linked to sanctions on Russian nationals.

It remains unclear whether US courts will seek to escalate the matter, but Antigua appears firm in its position that its head of government is beyond the reach of foreign subpoenas in this case.

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