This is the front page of The Guardian (Europe) right now. Short version: Russia is engaged in an active intimidation campaign against key Belgian players in the asset confiscation story.
The scary thing about this story isn’t so much the Russian intimidation itself, as the fact that prominent members of our government openly argue that this intimidation campaign should inform Belgian policy. A few recent quotes:
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Bart: Moscow has informed us that in the event of seizure of its assets, Belgium and me were going to feel it pass for eternity (edit: extended context here)
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Bouchez: And the third risk which should not be neglected is obviously a security risk. You know, when the drones flew over Belgium, it was not out of distraction, it was a way of putting pressure on Belgium.
This is really bad. Regardless of what you think about asset confiscation, this kind of argument crosses a deep red line. This opens up our democracy to endless and unlimited blackmail any time we consider anything a foreign mafia state doesn’t like: we know this is how Russia operates and it’s the job of our politicians to ensure it doesn’t happen to us.
Bart, Georges-Louis, for fuck’s sake grow a pair between you, and stop broadcasting to the world that Belgian democracy can be intimidated into compliance.
Our politicians should not be using Russian intimidation as a policy argument, ever.
byu/Mr_Two_Shoes inbelgium
Posted by Mr_Two_Shoes
17 Comments
I hope you know this already happened before only then it was called rexism and opposition only kicked in once the country was occupied.
Narcos set up shop in Antwerp, now they own Antwerp and move to Brussels too. Thank god Bart was there ? was he ?
Our politicians are afraid of coke dealers. They must be pissing their pants when it comes to Putin.
I understand where you are coming from but BDW already explained in full detail why he’s against the European Commission’s idea and it wasn’t because of the intimidation. See the video below.
https://youtu.be/0_tagkPH4XE?si=TDRmon9w2wfZcoF8
He only mentioned the Russian intimidation later on to create more sense of urgency / geopolitical pressure for the media and trying to unify everyone within Belgium. Or at least, almost everyone with common sense.
Every political party in Belgium is on the same side because it’s an economic suicide, and nobody wants to help us. The ECB has made it very clear how stupid this idea would be. And that has little to do with Russia but with our judicial system that simply doesn’t allow a government to randomly take someone’s money without repercussions.
It’s indeed not in the general interest to be fear-mongering so openly and playing into Russia’s hands. My guess is that BDW is making a politically calculated move – for our country’s interests and also his own interests.
That said, Russian risk is not non-existent and the extent of that risk should be discussed behind closed doors.
This unfortunately lines up with De Wever’s recent surprising remarks on Ukraine:
>« Qui croit vraiment que la Russie va perdre en Ukraine ? C’est une fable, une illusion totale. Ce n’est même pas souhaitable qu’elle perde et que l’instabilité s’installe dans un pays qui a des armes nucléaires », [a déclaré Bart De Wever lundi](https://www.rtl.be/actu/belgique/politique/qui-croit-vraiment-que-la-russie-va-perdre-en-ukraine-les-propos-controverses-de/2025-12-05/article/772594).
In practical terms, this further weakens De Wever’s position on the debate of the frozen funds. As always, I support his principal argument that the other member states cannot just leave the legal risks to Belgium alone, but his recent pro-Russian stance (for lack of a better word) on the end of the war *and* this new revelation that implies he faces direct pressure from the Kremlin, it becomes more and more difficult to support his position on the principle alone.
>Bart, Georges-Louis, for fuck’s sake grow a pair between you, and stop broadcasting to the world that Belgian democracy can be intimidated into compliance.
Yes, even if Belgium remains as stubborn as possible on the Russian funds, this is absolutely essential. I sincerely hope that our government takes a stronger stance against Russia in the future.
No one is above intimidation and geopolitics is about as tough as it gets, especially with the Russians involved who have honed their skills in such endeavors for decades during the Cold War. Geopolitics has always been about black-mailing, manipulations and half truths. I understand your sentiment and in an ideal world you’re right, but in the end it’s how the game is played.
However, I don’t think the position Belgium is taking in this discussion is influenced by Russia. We’re just trying to avoid being the ones holding the short end of the stick when the dust settles.
The decision was made because this it is bad for our country and we might become liable for the money and any damages to Moscow under international law.
De Wever has already said Belgium is willing to help, if the other nations put in ink their backing of Belgium and also shouldering liabilities. This stance has not changed.
This is just a bunch of nonsense reporting that has taken comments out of context. Russian threats are taken seriously, but this has NOT changed the stance that has been there from day 1. The demands have remained the same. Everyone shoulders the liabilities and puts it down in ink.
Mobsters have been trying to intimidate De Wever for over a decade because he has always been going hard against drugs in Antwerp, and he has never backed down. He’s not a career politician like De Croo who only thinks about his career, he is someone who believes in his convictions.
Your quotes (whom are also taken out of context) don’t illustrate that Belgian policy regarding Euroclear is formed through Russian intimidation. In fact has BDW in detail explained what the reasons for said policy are.
Claiming that it is because of intimidation is nothing more than conjecture.
Throwing around here that ‘this is insane’, is just more conjecture. None of what you are saying has any substance. It’s almost insane.
Ps. BDW has full, 100pct, support from the entire federal parliament for this policy: both opposition and majority.
Both groups are all being intimidated by Russia? Making that claim is not just almost insane. It is insane.
I don’t like BDW at all, but I support him on this. But I feel like you are deliberately ignoring the main argument? Which is that all EU member States should carry the risk and not just our country? All this Russian intimidation stuff came later. I feel like you are insinuating that we are against using Russian assets because of Russian threats. And that is not the case. The main argument is that Belgium could be liable under international law when Russia comes asking for its money back. And if that happens Belgium could be bankrupt
It’s funny how bombings and shootings all over Antwerp didn’t make Bartje change his course of action in his war on drugs, but some hollow threats from Moscow apparently can.
I’m not saying that he’s wrong about his stance, because he isn’t. There’s plenty of good reasons to not give the money like other nations not committing to the risk as well and the credibility of our financial institutions. But as OP says: foreign intimidation should never be a reason to change policy.
They could start by downsizing that huge embassy in Ukkel
It’s not intimidation.
You steal money that a nation saved in your international bank, it is normal that the nation react.
Imagine stealing American money. They would react with the military.
Why Russia should not react?
And not only Russia.
There are many economists that said this move from Europe and Belgium will have huge effects on the economical image of Europe. Already Hungary is saying it will pull out their money.
What do you think international investors and nations will do, knowing that EU can freeze and take the money of every nation?
And justifying this with the war is senseless. In how many war were Europeans ? How many times Europeans military attacked and were in othe nations, for example African nations?
How many times European assets where frozen and stealed? Never.
Our kids and grandkids will have to live with the consequences of these actions
These are people at the end of day who got chosen not for their bravery, but for being good salesmen and having connections in politics so they could ensure themselves and their families a rich life.
Not all of them, sure, but I am willing to make you a bet that the vast majority of our politicians don’t have the spine for situations like this.
Would you have the balls to openly mock Kadyrov on national television knowing that guy wouldn’t shy away from dismembering your family members to prove a point?
That said, the validity of the EU playing it’s shenanigans and making Belgium / Euroclear take all the heat (even after the warnings from the ECB!) is a TOTALLY different matter, but I find De Wever (considering his history with shakedowns) one of the best leaders our country has had since… a very long time.
Frankly, I understand that mentioning intimidation tactics so explicitly isn’t necessarily appropriate, but it must be part of the political game being played. In fact, I don’t think it’s the leaders/those in charge themselves who are afraid, but perhaps the idea is to raise awareness of the reality of certain situations. I read an article in a Belgian online newspaper that the director of EuroClear is also being directly threatened, and this is being taken quite seriously since her close protection has been increased.
And then, on the other hand, let’s be honest, do we really need to mention the number of countries, often quite powerful, that continuously use threats, intimidation, or blackmail of all kinds to influence the policies of certain countries? The only reason this is often kept quiet is that these countries exerting pressure are also often officially our allies…
Just to add this: this article in [rtbf.be](http://rtbf.be) ( [https://www.rtbf.be/article/avoirs-russes-geles-washington-fait-pression-sur-les-europeens-pour-ne-pas-utiliser-les-avoirs-russes-geles-11650268](https://www.rtbf.be/article/avoirs-russes-geles-washington-fait-pression-sur-les-europeens-pour-ne-pas-utiliser-les-avoirs-russes-geles-11650268) ) where they explain that USA put EU under pressure so EU would not use the Russian money, as USA wants to use the funds to negotiate some deal according to their own terms. They are not explicit about the type of “pressure”, but let us be honest, for our Prime Minister being between Russian and American pressures must be uncomfortable to say the least…
Dude. This is sooo weak and pathetic. All these claims are of absolutely spineless people who have absolutely zero dignity and stand for nothing in their miserable lives.
The last 4 years have taught them absolutely nothing and they are so afraid of the inbred drunken rusian that they’re about to soil their pants.
Fully agree. I’m ashamed to be Belgian because of our PM’s communication regarding the EU. I blamed it on amateurism, but it turns out to be even worse. We should not stand up to the EU; we should stand up to Russia. Fuck Bartov Weverski!