Russia seizes apartment of Ukraine's First Lady

Crimean authorities have seized assets of Ukrainian oligarchs and politicians on the peninsula, including the apartment of First Lady Olena Zelenska.

Crimean leader Sergey Aksyonov announced on May 24 that he would "nationalize" more than 130 real estate properties related to Ukraine, including cinemas, factories, shopping centers, wineries and banks. Among the confiscated properties is also a luxury apartment owned by Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska.

Ms Zelenska’s three-bedroom apartment, near the resort city of Yalta, is estimated to be worth $800,000. It was bought from a businessman in 2013 for just under $164,000.

Crimean legislature speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said the confiscated property would be sold and the money would be used to help the families of soldiers killed in the fighting.

The building with the apartment of the First Lady of Ukraine in Yalta, Crimea. Photo: Sputnik

In February, Crimea also announced the seizure of 500 properties owned by Ukrainian politicians and businessmen, in what was seen as a response to a law passed by Ukraine last year that allows the seizure of property of Russian citizens and businesses in the country. In August 2022, Kiev seized more than 900 Russian properties in Ukraine, estimated to be worth $765 million.

Since launching a military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has had a series of state and private assets confiscated by Western countries. The US and the European Union (EU) are looking to sell Russian assets to transfer money to a fund for Ukraine's reconstruction.

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula after a referendum in 2014. Moscow said the results showed most Crimeans wanted to become part of Russia, but Ukraine and Western countries viewed the move as illegal. Kiev has repeatedly vowed to take back the peninsula.

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska speaks in Bucha, Kiev province, on March 31. Photo: AFP

Ngoc Anh (According to RT/AFP )

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