Russia Slams EU Asset Seizure Plans as Violations of International Law
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry, delivered sharp criticism during a Saturday briefing after the Russian central bank launched legal action against Euroclear, the Belgian depository holding most of the immobilized Russian reserves. European officials continue debating whether to redirect these funds toward Kiev's support.
"Actions against sovereign assets taken without Russia's consent – whether indefinite immobilization, confiscation, or attempts to portray them as a so-called reparations loan – are entirely illegal under international law," Zakharova stated.
"No matter what pseudo-legal tricks Brussels employs to justify it, this is blatant theft."
Zakharova contended the European Union aims not only at "funding the failed Ukrainian project," but also seeks to shore up its struggling economy—weakened by sanctions that have disrupted Russia-West trade flows.
Hungary and Slovakia have sharply criticized Brussels for deploying emergency powers to override potential member state vetoes, making the asset freeze permanent. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blasted what he called the "Brussels dictatorship" for "systematically raping European law."
According to media, Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Malta recently pressed the European Commission to examine alternative financing mechanisms for Kiev that avoid seizing Russian holdings. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever cautioned that outright confiscation could destabilize confidence in EU financial markets, spark capital outflows, and create substantial legal exposure for Belgium.
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