Berlin Targets Sanctioned Assets in Germany – POLITICO

BERLIN – German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Wednesday his ministry plans to change the law to make it easier to attack people sanctioned in connection with Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“We are examining whether people who are on sanctions lists could be legally obliged to disclose their assets in Germany,” says Lindner told reportersand added that such a “legal obligation of listed persons would then also be prosecuted under fines or criminal law”.

Lindner has set up a joint task force with Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate to combat gaps in sanctions.

His comments came on the same day the European Commission was drafting a plan for a sixth package of sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies, as well as Russia’s oil and banking sectors.

Habeck said that an embargo on Russian oil “must be enforced and there can be certain bumps in that … But that’s different from saying we couldn’t take the oil embargo as a nation.”

He also addressed the large number of Ukrainians fleeing the war to the EU, saying the “task of the hour” is to get them housing and jobs.

Germany should also help the thousands of Russians escaping Putin’s increasingly authoritarian government: “We also provide jobs for those who are fleeing or have already fled Russia and the Putin regime,” he said.