Politico: In reality, Russia could not sue Belgium for the assets

From UNIAN, December 17, 2025:

"Russia has backed itself into a legal trap due to Putin's fatal error – media reports

Russia has effectively backed itself into a legal dead end by breaking away from the international legal system. Now, Moscow's chances of suing Europe for the Central Bank's frozen assets are close to zero.

The likelihood of Russia successfully challenging the freezing and potential transfer of Russian Central Bank assets to Ukraine in court is negligible. This is the conclusion reached by lawyers in two independent legal opinions cited by Politico.  

At issue are approximately €210 billion frozen in Europe, primarily in the Belgian financial infrastructure company Euroclear. Russia now has virtually no legal recourse to prevent this. 

Russia has made a fatal mistake

The key reason for the current situation is Russia's deliberate withdrawal from the international legal system. Even before the outbreak of full-scale war, Moscow declared the primacy of national legislation. After the invasion of Ukraine, this process accelerated.  

In March 2022, Russia left the Council of Europe, and in September, it finally withdrew from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. In total, approximately 20 international treaties were terminated. Legal experts emphasize that the risks to Europe from Moscow are now minimal. 

International Courts Are Not an Option

Attempts to appeal to international courts also appear futile. The main reason: Russia itself does not recognize their jurisdiction. 

"A claim filed in the EU Court, the International Court of Justice, or a similar body is doomed from the start, as Russia refuses to recognize these bodies," Covington & Burling concluded. Thus, Moscow simply has no legal leverage. 

Russia's lawsuits are doomed

Legal opinions were prepared by the international firm Covington & Burling and a group of experts affiliated with Stanford University, the Kyiv School of Economics, and the German law firm Bender Harrer Krevet.  

Their conclusion is unequivocal: Russia will be unable to find a court willing to hear a lawsuit against Belgium or Euroclear, much less rule in Moscow's favor."

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Unfortunately, Belgium insisted on not touching the Russian assets, and several other countries, including my Bulgaria, supported it. This is what fear and greed do.