France is setting depositors to be included in an additional EU sanctions list due to possible ties with the Russian authorities, the head of the Ministry of Finance said. Such assets may be seized
Photo: Siegfried Modola/Getty Images
Paris will identify all Russians with deposits in French banks, who may be additionally included in the sanctions list due to their proximity to the Russian authorities, declared at a briefing after a meeting of the Defense and National Security Council, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.
“We will also identify all Russian individuals who have property in France, who may be added to the European sanctions list due to their proximity to the Russian authorities. We will equip ourselves with legal means to seize all their property,” he said (quoted from RIA News).
Le Maire also noted that the French Ministry of Finance is compiling a complete list of property owned by Russian citizens under sanctions, including yachts and luxury cars. The list is compiled by order of the President.
Earlier, Emmanuel Macron at a meeting of the country’s defense council spoke for strengthening economic and financial sanctions against Russia. February 25 Le Maire declared about the intentions of the French authorities to block all the accounts of Russians against whom European sanctions were imposed. The head of the Ministry of Finance called the military operation of Russia an encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
On February 22, the EU unanimously agreed to impose a package of sanctions against Russia. They included 351 State Duma deputies who voted for the recognition of the DPR and LPR, and 27 individuals and legal entities “undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.” Restrictive measures include an asset freeze, a ban on the provision of funds, and a ban on entry into the EU.