Nancy Pelosi visits Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kyiv

The head of the Russian State Duma suggested on Sunday that Moscow confiscate the assets of representatives of companies from countries that Russia considers adversaries, in response to similar measures being considered by these countries.

“A company located on the territory of the Russian Federation, the owners of which are from unfriendly countries in which such decisions are made,” wrote Vyacheslav Volodin, who heads the lower house of parliament, on the Telegram messenger platform, a mirror response. “Confiscate these assets and use the proceeds of the sale to develop our country.”

US lawmakers have proposed legislation that would allow the government to confiscate Russian oligarchs’ yachts, artwork, and other assets, and funnel money from their sale toward humanitarian or military aid in Ukraine.

Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and members of the European Union, have been Asset audit From a handful of rich and powerful Russians, who say they have benefited from close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“A dangerous precedent has been set, which should be set back” in countries that take such measures, Mr. Volodin said. He accused Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and the United States of being “simply involved in the theft”.

Sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine have frozen about $300 billion in the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves, according to Russia’s Finance Ministry. The Russian government has banned foreign investors from exiting domestic assets.