US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday the creation of a task force to prosecute “corrupt Russian oligarchs” and violators of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Writes about it “Mirrors of the Week”.
“The Department of Justice is using its full power to seize the assets of individuals and entities that violate these sanctions,” Garland said in a statement announcing the launch of the KleptoCapture Task Force. AFP.
“We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to investigate, arrest and prosecute those whose criminal acts allow the Russian government to continue this unjust war,” Garland said.
US President Joe Biden warned Russian billionaires in a speech Tuesday night that the task force would “find and confiscate their yachts, their luxury apartments and private jets.”
“We’re coming for your unholy acquisitions,” he said.
Garland said the task force will consist of more than a dozen prosecutors from the Department of Justice’s Homeland Security and Criminal Divisions, as well as agents from other law enforcement agencies.
“To those who support the Russian regime through corruption and sanctions evasion: we will deprive you of asylum and hold you accountable,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “We warn the oligarchs: we will use all means to freeze and confiscate your criminal proceeds.”
