US announces first transfer of forfeited assets to Ukraine

US Attorney General Merrick Garland has announced the first transfer of forfeited assets from sanctions against a Russian oligarch during an appearance with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin at the Justice Department, Report informs referring to CNN.

The funds, according to Garland, will go toward aiding Ukraine.

“Today, I am announcing that I have authorized the first-ever transfer of forfeited Russian assets for use in Ukraine,” Garland said. “These forfeited assets follow the announcement I made last April of the indictment of designated Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev, on charges of sanctions evasions.”

In June, millions were seized from a US bank account belonging to Malofeyev, whom the United States announced sanctions against in April “for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly” the Russian government, the Treasury Department said at the time.

“With my authorization today. The forfeited funds will next be transferred to the State Department to support the people of Ukraine,” the attorney general added. “Russian war criminals will find no refuge in the United States.”

Kostin echoed Garland’s statement, adding that the two countries were sending a clear message: “There will be no immunity and impunity for international crimes.”

“Today, we are witnessing the authorization of transfer of the confiscated assets in the amount of $5.4 million to the State Department for the purpose of rebuilding war-ravaged Ukraine,” Kostin added.

“We are grateful to the United States for its decisive efforts and support. Ukrainian people will never forget that,” he said.