Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin reported that the government is considering a bill prepared by his department, which defines the procedure for the seizure of cryptocurrencies.
According to him, the text of the bill states that kriptovalyuta is recognized as property to which the Criminal Procedure Code and Criminal Code of Russia will apply.
In addition, the bill develops a mechanism for the confiscation of cryptocurrencies and lists the features of the seizure of digital assets during investigative actions.
Earlier, Alexander Bastrykin repeatedly stated that cryptocurrencies should be recognized as property. According to the official, obtaining such a status for digital assets will allow for effective and quick investigation of criminal cases in which virtual coins are the subject of a bribe or theft.
However, he did not specify how long the government would study the bill developed within the walls of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and when it would be submitted for consideration to the State Duma of Russia.
Nevertheless, the law enforcement agency’s initiative regarding cryptocurrencies indicates that the authorities are preparing to establish control over the Russian crypto market in order to generate additional revenue for the budget and prevent illegal activities with virtual assets.
