France to seize funds of government-linked savers from Russia

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, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said at a briefing after a meeting of the Defense and National Security Council.

“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 by RIA Novosti).

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 in favor of strengthening economic and financial sanctions against Russia. On February 25, Le Maire announced the intention of the French authorities to block all 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, as well as a ban on entry into the EU.