US Department of Justice asks for broader powers to seize Russian oligarchs' assets for the benefit of Ukraine

This was stated by one of the leading prosecutors of the ministry, Voice of America informs.

In testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Andrew Adams, who heads the Justice Department's KleptoCapture asset-tracking task force, said Congress should allow prosecutors to seize not only the proceeds of sanctions evasion, but also the assets used to circumvent them.

Adams also said the statute of limitations on some financial crimes, such as money laundering, should be doubled to 10 years to give prosecutors "time to follow the money".

Adams' testimony came at a time when Congress was considering legislation that would allow proceeds from confiscated Russian assets to be used to help the people of Ukraine.

The task force was created in March to expand the US's ability to punish wealthy Russians, whom Washington accuses of allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to launch an aggressive war in Ukraine.

Since then, prosecutors have obtained warrants to seize two yachts owned by sanctioned Russians and planes owned by billionaire Roman Abramovich, as well as other assets. 

Before those assets were liquidated, prosecutors had to obtain a warrant for permanent forfeiture, which often happens during lengthy legal proceedings.