“The seizure of Target Property is just the beginning of the account that awaits those who will alleviate Putin’s atrocities. Neither the Ministry of Justice nor history will be polite to the Oligarchs who chose the wrong side,” Faruqui wrote. Farouki completed his order with a reference to a CNN article in March detailing the damage on Snake Island, where Ukrainian defenders famously responded to the threat of Russian invasion with the words: “Russian warship, go for yourself.” “The seizure of the Ministry of Justice echoes the message of the brave Ukrainian soldiers of Snake Island,” Faruqui wrote.
DOJ special unit
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday’s seizure “will not be the last.” “Together with our international partners, we will do everything possible to hold accountable any individual whose criminal acts allow the Russian government to continue its unjust war,” he said in a statement. Another $ 625,000 distributed to nine different banks was frozen as part of investigations into violations of sanctions by Russian nationals, according to the ministry. The DOJ announced last month that it was launching a special unit to help impose sanctions on Russian government officials and oligarchs, targeting yachts, jets, real estate and other assets. The unit, called KleptoCapture, includes prosecutors and federal agents and experts in money laundering, tax enforcement and national security investigations by the FBI, the IRS, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Postal Service. Although a handful of Russian oligarchs – these billionaires who made a fortune under Putin’s watchful eye – have been calling for peace since the start of the war in Ukraine, many have remained silent as nations cut off access to markets. and trade. This story has been updated with additional details.
