Russia's central bank has initiated legal proceedings against the European Union over the bloc's decision to confiscate its assets. According to Jin10, the lawsuit was filed at the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg, targeting a regulation passed by the EU Council on December 12, 2025. The regulation allegedly violates international law by infringing on the fundamental and inalienable right to judicial remedy, the principle of property inviolability, and the sovereign immunity of states and their central banks.
In December of the previous year, EU member states approved the extension of measures freezing approximately €210 billion of Russian sovereign assets. The Russian central bank argues that the regulation indefinitely prevents asset transfers and prohibits it from defending its rights through the courts, including enforcing any judgments or arbitration awards related to these assets.
Furthermore, Russia contends that the EU Council's decision to pass the regulation by majority vote, rather than unanimous consent, constitutes a significant procedural violation.