MUNICH (Realist English). European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is “disappointed” by Switzerland’s refusal to transfer frozen Russian assets to Kiev to help in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
“It is unthinkable that, in the end, the international community is reconstructing the Ukraine, and Russia is not contributing. This is unthinkable!”, — said von der Leyen in an interview with the American TV channel CNBC.
On February 15, the Swiss Government stated, with reference to the conclusions of a working group set up by the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, that the confiscation of private Russian assets would undermine the constitution of the Alpine Republic and the existing legal order.
“Support for Ukraine will continue regardless of the discussion of frozen assets,” the Swiss Federal Council noted.
So far, Bern has kept pace with Brussels by freezing the assets of high-ranking Russian citizens associated with President Vladimir Putin. Currently, the volume of such assets is estimated at 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.1 billion).
Von der Leyen believes that Bern puts the interests of business above the political justice. When asked by CNBC if she was disappointed with this decision, the official replied unequivocally: “Yes, I was disappointed. I think this is a difficult choice, which puts the business model in the first place, because we must have the political will. The criminal must also pay for the restoration of the Ukraine.”
Moreover, according to her, the EU is creating a tribunal to force Russia to “take responsibility for her actions in the Ukraine”: “Putin must be held accountable for war crimes.”
The editor-in-chief of the Realist News Agency Sarkis Tsaturyan called the position of the head of the European Commission inconsistent:
“On the one hand, von der Leyen demands retribution against Putin and his entourage. On the other hand, she turns a blind eye to the war crimes of Ilham Aliyev and the Baku gangs controlled by him on the occupied lands in the Armenian Artsakh.
It turns out that the Ukrainians mustnot be killed, but the Armenians can. That’s not how it works! If the head of the European Commission is really concerned about human rights, then she should, at a minimum, demand the freezing of assets of the criminal Baku regime in Switzerland. But she is silent. For her, Putin is a “fiend from hell”, while Aliyev is a “reliable partner”.
The Armenians all over the world see von der Leyen’s cunning, and we will never forget the double bottom of the European bureaucracy, which prefers not to notice obvious things.”
Previously, US Vice President Kamala Harris made similar accusations against Putin, accusing the Russian Armed Forces of crimes against humanity: ” In the case of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, we have examined the evidence, we know the legal standards, and there is no doubt: These are crimes against humanity. And I say to all those who committed these crimes and to their superiors who are involved in these crimes, you will be brought to justice.”
