US bipartisans believe that the president’s powers are sufficient to carry out such confiscation.
A group of US congressmen wrote an open letter to US President Joe Biden, urging him to use his power to confiscate Russian central bank assets and immediately hand them over to Ukraine. The letter was signed by lawmakers from both leading parties in the US, Voice of America reported on Wednesday, May 24.
In their letter, the US lawmakers emphasized that the asset divestment must take place within the framework of international standards.
“Russia’s bloody and unprovoked war against Ukraine is the greatest threat to the international legal order since World War II,” the letter said. condemning Russia’s aggression, garnering strong support in Ukraine and holding Russia accountable for the war crimes, loss and destruction it has caused.”
Lawmakers are convinced that the president’s powers are sufficient to carry out such confiscation. As an example, they cite then-US President George W. Bush’s decision in 2003 to transfer approximately $1.7 billion of Iraqi funds to compensation for victims of terrorism, and in 2012, the Funds from the Iranian central bank have been transferred to compensation for victims of terrorism. The Biden administration also decided to begin liquidating $7 billion in assets of Afghanistan’s central bank to compensate victims of terrorism, lawmakers noted.
“The international community is clear on who should bear the costs of this war – the only question is when Putin will pay for the destruction he has caused in Ukraine,” the lawmakers wrote.
They stressed that it is a moral, political and strategic obligation to use these assets now and help Ukraine find peace.
Two weeks ago, the US Attorney General reportedly authorized the first transfer of confiscated Russian assets to Ukraine for recovery.
Recall that at the end of March it was reported about the start of the work of the EU working group on the transfer of assets of the Russian Federation to Ukraine.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.