Russia holds closed-door hearing over frozen asset in Moscow

A closed-door preliminary hearing was held on Wednesday at the Moscow Arbitration Court in a lawsuit filed by the Bank of Russia against Euroclear over the frozen Russian assets.

The case marks the latest legal move by Russia's central bank to recover assets frozen in Europe, with the entire pretrial session conducted behind closed doors after the plaintiff requested confidentiality, citing the involvement of banking and state secrets.

In the next stage of the case, a substantive hearing scheduled for April 10, will also be held closed-door, according to the court. Russian experts say a favorable ruling in domestic courts could lay the groundwork for further legal action at the international level.

The Bank of Russia has indicated that it is considering pursuing its claims through international courts and arbitration bodies and will seek recognition and enforcement of any rulings in member states of the United Nations.

In December 2025, the Council of the European Union announced a decision to freeze Russian assets within the bloc indefinitely. Following the move, the Russian central bank filed a lawsuit with the Moscow Arbitration Court, seeking more than 18 trillion rubles (about 231 billion U.S. dollars) in compensation from Euroclear, which holds a substantial portion of the frozen funds.

Russia holds closed-door hearing over frozen asset in Moscow

Thousands of people took to the streets of the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Tuesday to condemn U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, and to demand the release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

The demonstrators gathered in a park in western Caracas, holding banners and waving Venezuelan national flags as they marched along main thoroughfares toward Bolivar Square.

Participants chanted slogans condemning the U.S. hegemonic actions and voiced support for the Iranian people. Many also reiterated their demand that the United States release Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

"This is a protest against the ongoing and increasingly violent imperialist intervention. I am here to question why they are bombing Iran, just as they have bombed Venezuela and Gaza. I strongly oppose what is happening now. We believe that the internal affairs of a sovereign nation should be decided by its own people, and no other country has the right to interfere," said Sonia, a protester.

Protesters rally in Venezuela to condemn US-Israeli attacks on Iran