Didier Reynders, who spearheaded the bloc’s seizure of Russian assets, now faces a criminal probe in Belgium
Belgian prosecutors have charged former EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders with money laundering, local media have reported. The veteran official, who led the bloc’s campaign to freeze Russian state assets, is accused of channeling hundreds of thousands of euros through personal bank accounts and lottery winnings.
Reynders served as Belgium’s finance minister from 1999 to 2011 and foreign minister until 2019, before becoming justice commissioner in the first European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, where he oversaw Russian sanctions enforcement and asset-freeze coordination after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
According to reports on Tuesday, the case centers on the origins of nearly €1 million ($1.2 million) linked to Reynders’ finances. Investigators allege he laundered about €700,000 through his bank account over a decade and another €200,000 by purchasing large quantities of lottery tickets and transferring the winnings to his account. His wife, a retired magistrate, has also been questioned, but not charged.
The inquiry follows raids on Reynders’ properties in December 2024, shortly after his EU mandate expired. Judge Olivier Leroux formally indicted him last month after a second round of questioning, having found serious indications of guilt, the investigative outlet Follow the Money reported. Reynders denies wrongdoing and remains free while the case proceeds.
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