According to Reuters, the Czech government has announced that it has taken the step to freeze Russian state-owned properties in the Czech Republic. This decision is part of the sanctions set up in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The government press office revealed that the European Union country has expanded its national sanctions list to include a Russian company that is controlled by the Russian presidential administration, and manages Russian assets abroad. The company was not named in the statement.
The government statement included a declaration that the company’s income from operations directly supports the Putin regime. It also stated that the company’s commercial activities are now illegal, and any attempts to circumvent or violate the sanction will result in the freezing of its entire assets in the Czech Republic.
The Russian company manages several real estate properties in the Czech Republic, as mentioned by the Czech government.
The sanctions do not apply to diplomatic missions, as stated by Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky to the news agency CTK.
Additionally, the Czech sanctions list exceeds the EU’s sanctions packages and includes six other entities or persons.
Since Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Czech Republic has been a strong supporter of Ukraine.
It is worth noting that Russia has claimed to have taken action in Ukraine to eliminate what it perceives as a potential threat to its own security.
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka in Prague; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
