The Kremlin on Thursday criticised a decision by the United States to transfer to Ukraine the forfeited assets of conservative Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeyev, saying it was illegal and would backfire on Washington.
A federal judge in February ordered Malofeyev to forfeit the money from his account at Denver-based Sunflower Bank, after prosecutors said he sought to transfer the funds to a business partner in violation of U.S. sanctions.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday authorized millions of dollars worth of Malofeyev's forfeited assets to be sent for use in Ukraine, the first such instance of forfeited Russian money being used in such a way.
