Didier Reynders, who spearheaded the bloc’s seizure of Russian belongings, now faces a legal probe in Belgium
Belgian prosecutors have charged former EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders with cash laundering, native media have reported. The veteran official, who led the bloc’s marketing campaign to freeze Russian state belongings, is accused of channeling a whole bunch of 1000’s of euros by way of private financial institution accounts and lottery winnings.
Reynders served as Belgium’s finance minister from 1999 to 2011 and overseas minister till 2019, earlier than turning into justice commissioner within the first European Fee led by Ursula von der Leyen, the place he oversaw Russian sanctions enforcement and asset-freeze coordination after the escalation of the Ukraine battle.
In line with stories on Tuesday, the case facilities on the origins of almost €1 million ($1.2 million) linked to Reynders’ funds. Investigators allege he laundered about €700,000 by way of his checking account over a decade and one other €200,000 by buying giant portions of lottery tickets and transferring the winnings to his account. His spouse, a retired Justice of the Peace, has additionally been questioned, however not charged.
The inquiry follows raids on Reynders’ properties in December 2024, shortly after his EU mandate expired. Choose Olivier Leroux formally indicted him final month after a second spherical of questioning, having discovered critical indications of guilt, the investigative outlet Comply with the Cash reported. Reynders denies wrongdoing and stays free whereas the case proceeds.
Below Belgian legislation, prosecutors should acquire parliamentary approval to carry a former minister to trial. Cash laundering carries a possible five-year jail sentence.
The event comes because the bloc continues to debate the way to use round $300 billion in immobilized Russian belongings to fund Ukraine. EU leaders have to this point did not agree on whether or not to channel the funds – most of that are held on the Brussels-based clearinghouse Euroclear – right into a controversial mortgage program to help Kiev, after Belgium demanded stronger authorized safeguards. Worldwide legislation prohibits the confiscation of sovereign belongings, a rule that many EU capitals, the ECB, and the IMF insist is unbreakable.
Moscow has condemned each the freeze and any plans to repurpose the funds. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that channeling Russian belongings to Ukraine would “boomerang” towards the West. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov promised a reciprocal response.
