Representatives Malinowski and Curtis Call for Immediate Seizure of Putin’s Cronies’ Yachts, Jets, Villas, and Secret Bank Accounts

(Washington, DC) As Russian forces bomb Ukraine, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus Against Foreign Corruption and Kleptocracy (CAFCAK) Representatives Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and John Curtis (R-UT) called for immediate implementation of full financial freezing sanctions and asset seizures against the so-called Navalny 35 and other enablers of the Putin regime. CAFCAK leaders previously led a bipartisan effort, passed by the House of Representatives, to have the Navalny 35 reviewed for potential sanctions. These oligarchs, corrupt officials, and abusive enforcers help keep Putin in power, and were identified by Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, himself targeted by Putin for assassination and facing a sham trial this week in Russia.

“We urge President Biden to immediately impose full freezing sanctions on the so-called Navalny 35 list of Russian oligarchs, crooks, and officials who prop up the Putin regime. Endemic corruption and theft from the Russian people fuels Putin’s repression and military aggression; it is also his greatest political vulnerability. So as leaders of the Congressional Anti-Corruption Caucus, we have supported tough measures to seize the assets corrupt Russian officials hold outside of Russia, and to ensure the United States is not a safe haven for their ill-gotten gains. The time for coordinated action against these enablers of Putin’s abuses is now.

Further, we call on all nations standing against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to take immediate action to seize the assets of these corrupt officials and kleptocrats. The United States government should use all of its diplomatic resources and legal authorities to ensure that third countries seize the yachts, private jets, beachside villas, and hidden bank accounts of Putin’s cronies. If additional legal authorities are needed to compel action by such countries, the Biden administration should work with Congress to pass the necessary legislation.”

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The Congressional effort to force a sanctions review of the Navalny 35 list was supported by the Free Russia Foundation, Transparency International, Freedom House, and Human Rights First.

The Congressional Caucus against Foreign Corruption and Kleptocracy is a bipartisan grouping of members of Congress that has led the successful passage of several pieces of anti-corruption legislation through the House of Representatives, including the Justice for Victims of Kleptocracy Act, the Combating Global Corruption Act, measures to sanction Russian kleptocrats, the Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention Act and the Foreign Corruption Accountability Act. The caucus also seeks to tighten US controls against money laundering through the Enablers Act.