US creates KleptoCapture task force to search for assets of Russian oligarchs

The U.S. Justice Department said on March 2 that a new U.S. federal task force, KleptoCapture, will work to further put a strain on the finances of Russian oligarchs and force the country to stop invading Ukraine. Writes about it Reuters.

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The multi-agency law enforcement team will be tasked with enforcing sanctions, export restrictions and economic countermeasures aimed at ousting Russia from world markets, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

The task force's name comes from the word "kleptocracy", defined as corrupt people who abuse their powers to amass wealth at the expense of those they govern.

“To those who support the Russian regime through corruption and sanctions evasion: we will deny you 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.”

The task force will operate from the Monaco office and will be responsible for investigating sanctions violations and prosecuting. It will have to use civil and criminal forfeiture laws to seize illegally obtained assets.

On the subject: Russia was disconnected from SWIFT, Apple left the country: the consequences of sanctions hit the economy hard

Washington and its allies have sought to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and those close to him to try to stop the attack on Ukraine, the worst attack on a European state since World War II. More than 2000 civilians died.

The Justice Department has long had a team to track assets held by kleptocrats around the world that are linked to crimes that affect the US financial system, such as money laundering, sanctions evasion, or bribery.

The new task force will deal with the crimes of Russian officials and government-connected elites.

“Arrests and prosecutions will be made when supported by facts and the law,” the department said in a statement. “Even if defendants cannot be immediately apprehended, asset forfeiture and civil forfeiture of illegal proceeds, including personal real estate, financial and business assets, will be immediately pursued.”

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U.S. President Joe Biden on March 2 in his State of the Union speech criticized Putin for his country's attack on Ukraine and notified Russian oligarchs and other government leaders he called corrupt that the Justice Department would come after their assets.

“We are joining our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets. We're coming for your ill-gotten gains," Biden said.

The task force will be led by an experienced U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who has experience investigating Russian organized crime and recovering illicit assets, the agency said. His name is not given.

The task force will be staffed with agents and analysts from various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the US Marshals Service, the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security's Internal Investigation Service, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the US Postal Inspection Service.

How you can help Ukraine and Ukrainians from different parts of the world read in our material.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• On the night of February 24 began full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine.
• In the light of these events in Russia and around the world, protests against the invasion of Ukraine
• US and UK imposed broad economic sanctions against Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine.
• February 25 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to sit down at the negotiating table. Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Putin is ready to send a delegation to Minsk (Belarus) for negotiations with Kiev. He specified that the delegation will include representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the presidential administration.
• In the USA there were large-scale rallies in support of Ukraine.
• Pope Francis visits the Russian Embassy February 25, to personally "express his concerns about the war" in Ukraine, which made an unprecedented deviation from diplomatic protocol.
• European Union, USA and UK imposed sanctions and froze the assets of Putin and Lavrov.
• The United States declared its readiness to start accept refugees from Ukraine.
• February 26, the world famous and one of the most popular groups of hackers Anonymous recorded a video message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. They promised to find all "skeletons in the closet" and "leave no stone unturned".
• As it became known, the Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Sean Penn is located in Ukraine and is making a documentary for Vice about events in the country.
• February 28 The world's largest aircraft An-225 was destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it caused alarm and sadness among the aviation world, in which it occupies an almost cult status.
• On the same day, the United States and France called on their citizens immediately consider leaving Russia.
• From the very beginning of the invasion, many actions took place around the world in support of Ukraine. How it was in the USA, see our material.
• On March 1, the United States asked 12 Russian diplomats from the United Nations leave the US accusing them of "espionage activities" as Russia continues its advance into Ukraine.
• March 2 Russian businessman Alex Konanykhin offered $1 million reward for dead or alive Putin.
• Which of the Hollywood stars supported Ukraine, and who was on the side of Russia, read here.
• What Russians living in Ukraine say about the war, you can find out in our material.
• Which companies left Russia and how it hit the economy, read on link.
• Where Ukrainian citizens can receive special services in Poland - according to link.
• The US State Department has warned citizens of Ukraine that the US Mission in Ukraine does not currently offer visa services. That's it services provided in Germany.

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