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Russian ambassador warns Canada of immediate response to asset confiscation
En breve
Russia's ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, said Moscow would respond immediately if Ottawa confiscates Russian assets, according to TASS, RBC and Kommersant. Kommersant said the warning came in an interview with Izvestia and pointed to two Canadian bills, including one on sovereign assets that passed the Senate on May 26 and is now before the House of Commons. Moscow's possible countermeasures include assets held in special “S”-type accounts, Kommersant reported.
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Russia's ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, said Moscow will give an immediate response if Ottawa confiscates Russian assets, according to TASS, RBC and Kommersant. RBC reported, citing the ambassador's interview with Izvestia, that Russia would react without delay to any encroachment on its property in Canada; Kommersant said Stepanov stressed that such actions would be unlawful. TASS reported that the diplomat urged politicians in Ottawa to consider the consequences. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kommersant reported that Canada is considering bill S-214 on sovereign assets, which passed the Senate on May 26 and has moved to the House of Commons. A parallel initiative, C-219, would provide for the disposal of assets belonging to sanctioned persons and organizations, including the possibility of transferring them to the state, the paper said. Stepanov said it was hard to say what the authors mean by “Russian assets” and where in Canada they expect to find them, adding that Russia's position on such encroachments on property, in Canada or elsewhere, is known. [ 3 ]
The ambassador also referred to the Volga-Dnepr An-124-100 that has been at Toronto airport since 2022, after Canada closed its airspace to Russian airlines, Kommersant reported. He said Russia insists on returning the aircraft to its owner and reserves the right to take response measures if the plane is confiscated. [ 3 ]
According to Kommersant, the main practical consequence of a possible confiscation is the risk of countermeasures against foreign investors' property in Russia. The paper said Moscow could confiscate financial assets and securities held in special “S”-type accounts, so a decision on Russian property could affect assets not directly tied to the Canadian bills. Kommersant added that the response could include a legal dispute: if Russian sovereign assets are confiscated abroad, Moscow is expected to be able to turn to the International Court of Justice, citing the principle of sovereign immunity. Russia keeps a register of foreign property, and Canadian assets remain in the country, the paper said, creating a material basis for mirror measures. [ 3 ]
Por qué importa
The dispute touches sovereign and private property on both sides: Kommersant reported that Russian retaliation could affect assets held in special “S”-type accounts and Canadian property in Russia, so a Canadian decision could have consequences beyond the bills themselves. The documents give no indication of whether the Canadian bills will pass, leaving the practical effect uncertain.
Datos clave
- Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov said Moscow will respond immediately if Ottawa confiscates Russian assets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Stepanov said in an interview with Izvestia that such actions would be unlawful. [ 3 ]
- According to Kommersant, Canada is considering bill S-214 on sovereign assets, which passed the Senate on May 26 and moved to the House of Commons. [ 3 ]
- A parallel initiative, C-219, would provide for disposing of the assets of sanctioned persons and organizations, including transferring them to the state, Kommersant reported. [ 3 ]
- Stepanov said it is hard to say what the authors mean by “Russian assets” and where in Canada they expect to find them. [ 3 ]
- A Volga-Dnepr An-124-100 has been at Toronto airport since 2022 after Canada closed its airspace to Russian airlines; Russia insists on its return and reserves the right to respond if it is confiscated, Stepanov said. [ 3 ]
- Possible Russian countermeasures include financial assets and securities held in special “S”-type accounts, Kommersant reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
Aún sin aclarar
- Whether the Canadian bills on sovereign and sanctioned assets will become law. Only Kommersant describes the legislative stage of S-214 and C-219, and the documents give no timeline or vote schedule for the House of Commons.
- Whether Moscow would file a case at the International Court of Justice over confiscation of sovereign assets. Kommersant presents this as an expected step (“как ожидается”), not as a confirmed decision.
- Which assets Canada would treat as Russian, and where they are located. Stepanov himself said it is hard to say what the authors of the bills mean by “Russian assets” and where they intend to look for them, per Kommersant.
- Whether the An-124-100 in Toronto will be confiscated. Kommersant reports the aircraft's presence and Russia's stated position, but no decision on the plane.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- TASS publishes the ambassador's warning about a response to possible confiscation of Russian assets. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports, citing Izvestia, that Russia will respond immediately to any encroachment on its property in Canada. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant publishes a fuller account with the bill numbers, the An-124 case and possible countermeasures. [ 3 ]