The decree - outlining possible retaliation if Russian
assets abroad are seized - showed Moscow had already taken action against
Uniper Russian division and the assets of Finland's Fortum Oyj.
The decree said Russia needed to take urgent measures to
respond to unspecified actions from the United States and others it said were unfriendly
and contrary to international law.
The shares in the two entities have been placed in the
temporary control of Rosimushchestvo, the federal government property agency,
the decree said.
In February, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Russia
should bear the costs of damage caused by its war on Ukraine, adding though
there were significant legal obstacles to confiscating major frozen
Russian assets.
The CEO of state-owned bank Bank VTB PAO had on Monday
said Russia should consider taking over and managing the assets of
foreign companies such as Fortum, only returning them when sanctions are
lifted.
Rosimushchestvo said more foreign firms could find their
assets under temporary Russian control, TASS reported. The agency would ensure
the assets were run in accordance with their importance for the economy.
"The decree does not concern ownership issues and does
not deprive owners of their assets. External management is temporary in nature
and means the original owner no longer has the right to make management
decisions," TASS cited the agency as saying.
Last October European Council President Charles Michel said
the EU was looking at using Russian assets frozen nunder sanctions against
Moscow towards rebuilding Ukraine.
Asset sales by investors from unfriendly countries - as
Moscow terms those that imposed sanctions against Russia following its invasion
of Ukraine - require approval from a government commission and, in some cases,
the president.
In February, Uniper valued its majority stake in Russian
division Unipro at a symbolic one euro to reflect the likely chance a
planned sale to a Russian buyer would fall through. Fortum had already warned
shareholders there was a risk its Russian assets could be expropriated.
