EU Freezes Assets of 18 Ukrainians for Corruption
The European Union decided Wednesday to freeze assets held in the 28-nation bloc by 18 Ukrainians accused of embezzlement.
The freeze will take effect on Thursday when their names are listed in the EU Official Journal and targets 18 people "identified as responsible" for misappropriating Ukrainian state funds, a statement said.
The sanctions, which will apply for an initial 12 months, "also contain provisions facilitating the recovery of the frozen funds," the statement added, without offering further details.
But an EU source said member states would be able to return seized money only if Ukraine first issued judicial rulings identifying the missing funds.
Britain said the 18 people targeted were suspected of laundering the proceeds of corruption.
The list may include ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, one source said.
Swiss authorities have ordered a freeze on the assets of both Yanukovych and his multi-millionaire son, Oleksandr, as well as 18 other former ministers and officials from Ukraine.
Liechtenstein has also frozen the bank accounts of the same officials while Austria has announced moves against 18 Ukrainian officials suspected of violating human rights and involvement in corruption.
The EU's foreign ministers had already decided on February 20 to apply sanctions to any Ukrainian officials deemed responsible for violence against protesters in the days leading up to Yanukovych's ouster.
But at emergency talks this week, the same ministers agreed "to swiftly work on the adoption of restrictive measures for the freezing and recovery of assets of persons identified as responsible for the misappropriation of state funds."
Source: Agence France Presse
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