Foreign Ministry extends freeze of Tunisian, Ukrainian foreign assets in Swiss banks

GENEVA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss government said Wednesday it has decided to extend for 12 months the freeze of assets belonging to the former presidents of Tunisia and Ukraine.

The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said in a statement that the government agreed to end with immediate effect a freeze of assets from Egypt in place since 2011 and partially lifted over the years.

"At its meeting on Dec. 20, the Federal Council decided to extend for one year the freeze on the assets of ousted presidents Ben Ali (Tunisia) and Yanukovych (Ukraine) and their entourages," said the statement.

The purpose of this decision is to support the judicial cooperation between Switzerland, Tunisia and Ukraine, said the statement.

Tunisian assets worth 56 million Swiss francs (57 million U.S. dollars) were blocked in 2011 following a public uprising in the north African country.

Another 70 million Swiss francs held in Swiss bank accounts were frozen in the after a crisis in Ukraine in 2014.

In both cases, the freeze was due to expire in January for Tunisia and in February for Ukraine. Enditem