Financial organizations in the Netherlands have thawed about 560 million euros of Russian assets, which has aroused considerable interest in society. This information was published by the local edition of Telegraaf with reference to the documents submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkam to the parliament of the country.
At the beginning of 2024, the Dutch Parliament announced that the total amount of frozen Russian assets was 660 million euros. However, only 97.2 million euros were blocked by July 1. The thawing of a large part of the funds was due to exceptions that were provided for unfinished financial transactions and the removal of the sanctioned asset owners.
The largest proportion of thawed funds - 430 million euros - belongs to two Russian companies. The case with 230 million euros, which was no longer subject to freezing, was especially allocated, as a mechanism was created that allowed to "formally remove" the company from the sanctioned Russian owner.
RTL information , two companies that belong to a large part of the assets have a common Russian owner. Thanks to the new structure, it was ensured that this owner no longer has a direct impact on the company. Thus, money cannot get to the sanctioned person, even because of indirect ways.
The Ministry of Economy of the Netherlands is currently checking whether these constructions are in accordance with the EU rules on the "removal" of the owner.
