RFE/RL's Russian Bank Accounts Frozen Following Bailiffs' Visit to Moscow Bureau

RFE/RL's bank accounts in Russia have been frozen following a visit by court bailiffs to the U.S. agency's Moscow bureau.

The move came after agents of the Federal Court Bailiffs Service on May 14 initiated enforcement proceedings against RFE/RL's Russian branch over unpaid fines accrued because of violations of Russia's controversial "foreign agent" laws. The bailiffs service sent RFE/RL a court resolution authorizing it to search for the organization's bank accounts and to freeze them. RFE/RL's Moscow-based bank was ordered by the bailiffs service to seize the agency's accounts in order to provide payment for the unpaid fines of 5 million rubles ($68,000).