Switzerland extends sanctions against Yanuckovych
Switzerland extended for a year the freezing of the accounts of the former presidents of Tunisia and Ukraine and of persons associated with them, stated the Federal Council of Switzerland on its website.
"At its meeting on December 20, the Federal Council decided to extend for a year the freezing of all accounts in Switzerland of the defunct presidents Ben Ali of Tunisia and Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine and their entourage and other persons closely associated with them," the report said.
The purpose of this decision is to support judicial cooperation between Switzerland and the two countries.
Switzerland froze Yanukovych's assets in 2014 for a period of three years. The said assets are worth 70 million Swiss francs or more than $69 million. Then, the sanctions were extended for a year in December 2016. The term of their validity expires in February 2018.
The Swiss Federal Council expects that the next extension of the sanctions will help in achieving tangible progress in examining the former president's case and will increase the likelihood of assets returning to the country of origin.