During the panel discussion “Confiscation of the Russian assets abroad as a fair mechanism of compensation for the damage to business and citizens of Ukraine” at the III EU-Eastern Partnership Legal Forum, which took place today, 23 May, in Warsaw (Poland), Olena Duma called on international lawyers to stop wasting time on discussions and join the concrete task of counteracting Medvedchuk and his lawyers to use illegal mechanisms and attempts to put pressure on the World Auction Houses regarding the sale of the yacht Royal Romance.

Participants from more than 25 countries, representing various branches of government and business, including Europe, the Eastern Partnership countries, Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as representatives of the legal community from the United States of America, joined the discussion.

During her speech, Head of ARMA stated that the issue of selling russian assets abroad is a priority for ARMA. The National Agency is currently writing the modern history in applying these mechanisms into practice through real cases. Therefore, the sale of the seized asset abroad - the luxury yacht ‘Royal Romance’ of the Ukrainian traitor Medvedchuk - will become a precedent for further cases of sale of seized assets abroad, including those of the russian federation.

“Amid the sound of air raid alerts, in times of war with the russian federation, here in Kyiv, we are solving extremely complex issues regarding the use of russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine. We have already used all possible mechanisms to sell Medvedchuk's yacht and have made unprecedented progress”, said Olena Duma.

She added that the National Agency is currently facing incredible resistance from Medvedchuk's lawyers, who are putting pressure on all participants in the process both in Ukraine and abroad. Therefore, Head of the Agency appealed to the international community for help in removing obstacles to the sale of the illegally acquired property.

“I call on all international lawyers to join the process and help speed up the sale of the arrested yacht of the collaborator Medvedchuk in order to make the illegally gained asset work for the benefit of Ukraine”, said Olena Duma.

At the same time, Head of ARMA outlined ARMA's initiatives to amend Ukrainian legislation in order to improve the efficiency of seized assets management and unlock ARMA's ability to manage corporate rights.

“We are talking about asset management, where 100% of the property belongs to citizens of the russian federation. The situation where we have to ask the aggressor country for permission to manage property on the territory of Ukraine is anti-state,” stressed Olena Duma in her speech to the participants of the international forum.

Earlier, the international community showed their support for the approval of Draft Law 10069 at a conference on asset recovery in Central and Eastern Europe.

At the end of her speech, Olena Duma thanked the forum organisers for the excellent opportunity to once again raise important issues for Ukraine to the global community.