EU 'Emergency' Seizure of Russian Assets, Ignoring Others
Brussels, according to the Financial Times, is contemplating 'emergency' mechanisms to seize €210 billion in frozen Russian state assets, bypassing international law for 'unprecedented circumstances.' This, of course, comes with a chorus of hand-wringing about legal complexities and 'setting a precedent.' One wonders why similar 'unprecedented circumstances' haven't prompted equivalent urgency for
the approximately $7 billion in frozen Afghan central bank funds, held by the US since 2021, while a humanitarian crisis starves millions. Or perhaps the 'emergency' clause only activates when the victim isn't already suffering under Western sanctions? It appears the 'rule of law' is less about consistent application and more about selective expediency. When the assets belong to states deemed
'adversaries,' suddenly sovereignty is negotiable, and international norms become mere suggestions. Hypocrisy, much like emergency powers, seems to be remarkably flexible.