Seemar's Licence Suspended Over Links to Chechen Leader
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Photo: Dubai Racing Club/Erika Rasmussen
Satish Seemar
Satish Seemar, a six-time champion trainer in the UAE, has had his license suspended after being placed on a U.S. sanctions list because of his connection to Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic.
The trainer revealed the suspension relates to his training of North America , a Meydan group 1 winner. Seemar's assistant, Bhupat Seemar, has taken over the license and will saddle his first runners Nov. 18.
In a statement, Seemar said: "I have been informed by the Emirates Racing Authority that it is temporarily suspending my license, with immediate effect. This is due to one of my former clients being included on the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control list."
Confirming his suspension was linked to training for Kadyrov, Seemar added: "The horse in question, North America, is no longer in training at Zabeel Racing Stables and has been exported from the UAE. My case has been submitted to lawyers in Washington D.C. and I'm confident my name will be removed from the list in the near future.
"Bhupat Seemar will hold the license until further notice and he and the excellent team at Zabeel Stables will endeavor to uphold the high standards we have maintained throughout the past 30 years."
North America wins the 2018 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 at Meydan Racecourse
Seemar was added to the OFAC sanctions list by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Dec. 10, 2020 and was described as a "prominent member of Kadyrov's network" in a press release which stated: "Satish Seemar, a horse trainer for Kadyrov, has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial material, or technological support for, or goods and services to or in support of, Kadyrov."
The OFAC also alleges that since Kadyrov was placed on the list in 2017 for serious human rights abuses, his paramilitary Kadyrovtsy organization has continued to carry out "egregious activities" under his direction.
These include the "kidnapping, torturing, and killing of members of the LGBTI population in the Chechen Republic." The Kadyrovtsy is also accused of "illegal abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings."