Returning Syrian Assets Held in Western Jurisdictions

With the ousting of the Assad regime, the conversation between Syrian civil society, Western governments, and the new authorities in Damascus on how to approach asset return is gaining momentum. Western countries have three main types of Syrian assets in their jurisdictions: frozen assets from sanctioned individuals and entities, the fines that companies have paid for breaching Syria sanctions, and the penalties and forfeitures from legal proceedings linked to international law violations in Syria. Each type of asset faces different legal and political challenges.