The US authorities announced on Monday that they want to confiscate the Airbus A319 of Russian oligarch and MP Andriy Skoch in Kazakhstan, which has been under US and European sanctions since the start of Moscow’s war in Ukraine, AFP reports.
American justice received a “warrant” for the “confiscation” of this private Airbus A319-100 belonging to Scotch, a member of the State Duma, accused of “connections with organized crime” and subject to a series of sanctions from Washington and Brussels.
The Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Commerce Department said in a statement that the plane had been in Kazakhstan since early March and was valued at “more than $90 million.”
Washington published a photo and video of the plane.
“We will continue to use every legal tool at our disposal to enforce our anti-money laundering laws and pursue those who seek to use the U.S. financial system to violate and evade sanctions,” said Manhattan federal prosecutor Damian Williams.
Since 2018, the US Treasury Department has accused Skoch of “longstanding ties to Russian organized crime groups.”
US Attorney General Merrick Garland in March created a legal and financial unit to prosecute “corrupt Russian oligarchs.”
Dubbed “KleptoCapture,” the task force includes more than a dozen prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys and national security experts, as well as investigators from the FBI, IRS and Postal Service.
- Follow the latest events of the 166th day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.
Source: Hot News RU
James Springer is a renowned author and opinion writer, known for his bold and thought-provoking articles on a wide range of topics. He currently works as a writer at 247 news reel, where he uses his unique voice and sharp wit to offer fresh perspectives on current events. His articles are widely read and shared and has earned him a reputation as a talented and insightful writer.