This is the first such case
The Munich prosecutor’s office has ordered the confiscation of property in Germany, which allegedly belongs to a member of the State Duma and his wife, due to EU sanctions. This is the first time such a case has taken place in Germany, the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported.
The MP’s name is on the EU’s February 23 sanctions list and he is a member of the Communist Party. It has not been announced. It is alleged that the Russian and his wife own three apartments in Munich, which until recently were rented out. According to the newspaper, after the imposition of sanctions by Brussels, the couple received a total of 10,000 euros from renting out the property.
The prosecution instituted proceedings on suspicion of violating paragraph 18 of the German Foreign Trade Act or, more simply, the sanctions regime. Such a crime is punishable by imprisonment from three months to five years.
Authorities confiscated the apartments instead of “freezing” them. It is alleged that this was due to the fact that the owner received rent, ie. has made a profit. The publication recalls that the property of Russians subject to sanctions in Europe is usually “frozen” and not confiscated if it does not involve generating income.
A special working group set up by the German government to enforce EU sanctions is currently checking all the information available to regional authorities about Russian property in Germany.
