Lead

Euroclear has filed a complaint with the Moscow Arbitration Court challenging the immediate enforcement of a ruling that ordered the Belgian depository to pay the Bank of Russia 18.2 trillion rubles (approximately $256 billion), according to a source familiar with the proceedings. The complaint was filed this week, the source said, as reported by TASS.

Coverage Comparison

The Moscow Arbitration Court ruled on May 15 in favor of the Bank of Russia's claim against Euroclear, according to TASS reports. The amount includes frozen funds, the value of blocked securities, and lost profits, per the same source.

On May 20, the Bank of Russia filed a petition with the Moscow Arbitration Court to immediately enforce the ruling, according to court documents cited by TASS. The court granted the Bank of Russia's motion to enforce the decision, according to Euroclear's lawyers, Maxim Kulkov and Sergey Savelyev, who spoke to TASS. The lawyers reportedly said the hearing on the motion was scheduled at extremely short notice.

The Bank of Russia has called the court decision on immediate enforcement "fair," with the regulator's press service telling TASS that the court addressed the ongoing violation and the risk that delaying enforcement would further protract the reinstatement of violated rights.

Key Claims

  • Moscow Arbitration Court ruling: The court upheld the Bank of Russia's claim against Euroclear for 18.2 trillion rubles (approximately $254–256 billion, depending on the report).
  • Immediate enforcement request: The Bank of Russia filed a petition to immediately enforce the ruling, which the court granted, according to Euroclear's lawyers.
  • Euroclear's complaint: Euroclear has filed a complaint against the immediate enforcement of the ruling, according to a source familiar with the proceedings, as reported by TASS.
  • Euroclear's position: The depository maintains that the Bank of Russia's assets will remain frozen "in line with international sanctions," and Euroclear does not recognize the jurisdiction of the Russian court, according to TASS.
  • Frozen Russian assets: The EU and G7 countries have frozen approximately €300 billion of Russian assets, with about €180 billion held at Euroclear, according to multiple reports.

Perspectives

  • Bank of Russia: Views the court decision as fair and is considering further legal avenues, including protecting its interests in international courts and arbitration tribunals, with enforcement in UN member states, per TASS.
  • Euroclear: Contends that the assets remain frozen under EU sanctions and does not recognize the Russian court's jurisdiction, according to TASS reports.
  • EU and G7: The legal actions stem from EU plans to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. The European Commission has sought member states' consent for such use, though the EU has not reached agreement on a "reparations loan" to Ukraine using these assets, according to TASS.
  • Related cases: Separately, Russia's Ninth Arbitration Court of Appeal ruled that Euroclear must pay approximately 32 billion rubles ($448 million) to Management Company Pervaya in a lawsuit filed by the firm, according to the arbitration case database. That claim involved the value of foreign securities, accrued income, and lost investment income for clients whose assets were frozen.