Russian rulings prompt move to freeze Google assets in France

Google is facing a temporary freeze on around 110 million euros ($129 million) in assets held in France after legal action tied to rulings issued by Russian courts, according to official orders seen by Reuters.

The measure was requested by the court-appointed administrator of Google’s defunct Russian business, which is seeking to enforce decisions handed down by Moscow arbitration courts between 2024 and 2025. Those rulings found Google liable over what Russian judges described as an illegal dividend payment made in 2021, worth about 10 billion roubles.

French bailiff documents show the freeze applies to shares held by Google France but owned by Google International, an Alphabet subsidiary. The move stands out as a rare attempt by Russian authorities to pursue Western corporate assets outside Russia, amid broader legal battles linked to frozen Russian funds in Europe.

William Julie, a lawyer representing the Russian liquidator at Paris-based WJ Avocats, said enforcement efforts are also being pursued in Spain, Turkey and South Africa. He added that the French action is only a first step.

Under French law, the freeze remains temporary unless formal recognition proceedings are filed within one month. Julie said those filings are expected shortly. The Paris Judicial Court would then decide whether to recognise and enforce the Russian arbitration rulings, a process that could take up to 18 months.

Google can challenge the temporary freeze before an enforcement judge. If French courts approve recognition and enforcement, the frozen funds could be seized to satisfy the Russian judgments.

Alphabet, Google and the French government did not respond to requests for comment. Google’s Russian unit filed for bankruptcy in 2022 after Russian authorities seized its bank accounts, months after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.