Cyprus has frozen 1.2 billion Euros ($1.3 billion) in Russian-owned assets managed by Cypriot companies, in compliance with sanctions imposed over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The “vast majority” of frozen assets were held in European Union credit institutions, according to Cyprus’ Finance Ministry.Other EU countries have frozen up to 4 billion Euros ($4.34 billion) in Russian assets.Some 1.2 billion Euros ($1.3 billion) in Russian-owned assets managed by Cyprus-registered companies were frozen in compliance with sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Cyprus’ Finance Ministry said Tuesday.The ministry told The Associated Press “the vast majority” of those assets were held in European Union credit institutions and the entire amount came on top of 105 million euros frozen by banks in Cyprus.ISRAEL, CYPRUS WORKING ON DEAL TO BUILD NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANT, PIPELINE IN CYPRUSThe ministry provided the information in response to European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders saying last week that Cyprus appeared to be falling behind on freezing Russian-owned assets. Cyprus has frozen 1.2 billion Euros ($1.3 billion) in Russian-owned assets. (Photo by Danil Shamkin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Reynders said that while other EU member nations each froze 2-4 billion Euros worth of Russian assets, Cyprus’ reported sum of around 100 million Euros “seems to be a little low.”US RETURNS 80 ANCIENT ARTIFACTS TO CYPRUS, SOME OVER 4,000 YEARS OLDThe Finance Ministry said this was an error owed to the European Commission receiving incomplete information – an error since rectified by updating a relevant database.Meanwhile, the Cypriot government is stepping up its supervisory capacity to ensure compliance with international sanctions by setting up a specialized unit modeled after the U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), according to the ministry.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Cyprus government is also keen on joining a European Commission program on supporting “the effective and uniform implementation of sanctions.”
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