Canada’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday that it has begun the process of seizing $26 million — a similar amount in euros — from Granite Capital Holdings, owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
This is the first time Ottawa has used its authority to seize assets of a sanctioned person. Abramovich was blacklisted for his affinity to Vladimir Putin’s government.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, will have to file a judicial request to proceed. In the event that Justice gives its approval, the Canadian State could confiscate funds and allocate them to the Ukrainian reconstruction plan.
«Canada is the first G7 country to implement such measures, demonstrating its strong commitment to Ukraine, its reconstruction and holding accountable those who benefited from and supported President Putin’s regime,» the Canadian foreign portfolio said in a statement.
For his part, Joly stressed Canada’s commitment to Ukraine and assured that Ottawa will prevent Putin’s «enablers» from managing to «hide from the consequences of their actions.» «Impunity has never been an option, Canada will continue to put pressure on the Russian regime and those who have benefited from the barbaric invasion of Ukraine.»
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 1,500 Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian entities and personalities for involvement in or facilitation of the conflict in Eastern Europe.
Abramovich, who at the beginning of the war owned the British soccer club Chelsea, was included in the list of those sanctioned not only by Canada, but also by the European Union, the United Kingdom and other Western powers.
In fact, the sanctions applied from London made Abramovich step aside and put the English club up for sale due to the «situation» at the time, although he promised that it would not be an «accelerated» process.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
