Since the start of the economic sanctions against Russia, Belgium has blocked 196.4 billion euros (or about $215 billion) worth of transactions and 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion) in Russian assets in the latest figures announced by the Belgian Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem.
In a statement, the Belgian Finance Ministry said the frozen assets belong to 877 people and 62 entities that appear on the European sanctions list, and the blocked transactions are the result of the other restrictions imposed by the European Union on Russia.
Additionally, Belgian customs officials have also searched 23,191 containers in Belgian ports since the sanctions began.
From those searches, “an infringement was observed on 3 containers containing luxury products,” the Ministry said.
Furthermore, “1,000 luxury vehicles” are being held at the Port of Zebrugge waiting for inspection.
“These are shipments from outside the EU and sold to Russian customers. The shipments were already on their way when the sanctions were published,” the statement read.
In a statement, Van Peteghem said: “The financial sanctions against Russia are already having a major impact today,” but cautioned, “it is clearly not enough for the Russian regime to stop the brutal invasion and inhumane war scenes.”
“That is why we should not hesitate and push through with a fifth package of sanctions,” he added.
He also called on, “all Member States to follow the measures very strictly, just like Belgium," CNN reports.
