Switzerland allows return of frozen Yanukovych assets to Ukraine

Switzerland has satisfied a request for legal assistance to Ukraine with regard to frozen funds associated with the regime of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Galli stated the agency does not have any information about the amount of assets that have been frozen, Ukrainian newspaper Yevropeiska Pravda has reported, with reference to Swiss Federal Office of Justice Spokesman Folco Galli.

This is the first time a representatives of the Swiss Federal Office of Justice has issued a positive decision on a legal request under the "case of Yanukovych," Galli noted.

Switzerland was one of the first countries to freeze the assets of former Ukrainian president, as well as 30 other people close to him.

The accounts of Yanukovych’s associates have at least CHF 170 million (CHF 100-160 million according to Swiss publication Neue Zürcher Zeitung). An investigation has been launched into suspected money laundering by the ex-president and his son.

A separate case against Yanukovych and his associates is ongoing in Geneva.