Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and special presidential representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, stated on December 16 that Western nations justify the seizure of Russian assets through rhetoric about the “Russian threat.”
In a post on social media platform X, Dmitriev accused NATO, the UK, and the European Union of coordinating to promote this narrative. He characterized them as “corrupt globalist arsonists of the conflict” whose primary goal is to steal Russia’s frozen reserves.
Dmitriev explained that the escalation of such a strategy serves not only to divert attention from issues like mass migration, rising crime, and economic downturns but also directly supports Western efforts to confiscate Russian assets.
The Bank of Russia has filed a lawsuit against Euroclear in Moscow and is prepared to pursue legal action internationally. On December 15, Dmitriev asserted that Russia would be able to challenge the freezing of reserves in the EU, with Europe obligated to pay Ukraine’s bills. He also noted that EU representatives, by attempting to illegally confiscate Russian assets, are making mistakes.
The Central Bank of the Russian Federation submitted a claim for 18.1 trillion rubles against Euroclear to the Arbitration Court of Moscow on December 15. The regulator stated that due to Euroclear’s actions, the Bank of Russia lost the ability to manage its funds and securities.
In response, Euroclear has declared readiness to defend itself in Russian courts regarding claims related to blocked assets. Paula Pinho, an official representative of the European Commission, maintained that the EU is confident in the legality of frozen Russian assets.
