The Russian Foreign Ministry has threatened retaliation against the property of Belgium in Russia – RBC

The building of the Russian Foreign Ministry

Photo: Yekaterina Kuzmina / RBC

The Russian Foreign Ministry described the arrest of Russian state assets as “frankly unfriendly act, gross violation of the universally recognized norms of international law” and therefore summoned Belgian Ambassador Alex Van Meeuwen for questioning.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the agency demanded that the Belgian side to take immediate action “to restore the violated Belgian sovereign rights of the Russian Federation and to ensure the normal functioning of Russian institutions and entities.” “Otherwise, the Russian side will be forced to consider the adoption of adequate response measures against the Russian Federation located in the property of the Kingdom of Belgium, including the property of the Belgian embassy in Moscow, as well as its legal entities,” – said in a statement.

In a separate statement, the Foreign Ministry stated that Van Meeuwen assured that give a note of protest to the authorities of the country.

As it became known yesterday, Belgium arrested the Russian state assets in this country. The decision was made on the basis of the verdict of the Hague arbitration claim “Yukos Universal Limited” dated July 18, 2014. According to it, Russia is obliged to pay the former owners of Yukos $ 50 billion, of which € 1,6 млрд – claims “Yukos Universal Limited”. The period under which Russia was to provide the Council of Europe a payment plan in the Yukos case, expired Monday, June 15.

On Thursday it became known that the French police officers have also begun to execute court decisions on seizure of property in Russia. In particular, he was arrested by the international representation of the news agency “Russia Today”. Local offices Tass and RTR received prescriptions which are state-owned company is not disclosed.

The decision of the Belgian and French authorities have caused a sharp reaction of Russian officials and top managers. In particular, the head of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakinun called to take such a decision “idiots”: “I am against the idiots can not say anything but wishes to contact a psychiatrist».

Vice-President of “Rosneft” Mikhail Leontyev said that if the representatives of Belgium, “Belgian beer Census,” that is not a problem in Russia. According to him, a decision reminiscent of the “children’s immature sexual games with the public interest of annoyance.” Leontiev also explained that all property owned by state-controlled entities “on any number of interest” is considered to be private, so it can not be arrested.

France’s action, to Thoraya followed by Belgium, he called arbitrary and suggested Russian authorities arrested all the French assets in Russia.