Over the past week, the U.S., UK, and EU imposed sweeping
sanctions rolled out by the US, in response to Russia's
invasion of Ukraine,
outlined here. Also last week, the Department of
Justice announced the launch of Task Force
KleptoCapture to enforce these sanctions and seize assets belonging
to sanctioned individuals and other criminal actors. Attorney
General Merrick B. Garland made clear that the U.S. "will
leave no stone unturned in our efforts to investigate, arrest, and
prosecute those whose criminal acts enable the Russian government
to continue this unjust war."
Task Force KleptoCapture will target the crimes of Russian
oligarchs and those who aid or conceal their unlawful conduct.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, whose office will oversee
the Task Force, told financial institutions to be on high
alert for oligarchs attempting to use the U.S. financial system to
hide criminal proceeds and evade sanctions. She emphasized that
financial institutions
