First of all, I cannot say whether they do have assets abroad or not because, as you may know, many of the power structures, both in Russia and Belarus and other parts of the former Soviet Union are very closely involved in business schemes, and mostly in criminal business schemes, that presuppose the withdrawal of money or storing the money or keeping the money outside, preferably in the western world.
When those businessmen were targeted in Belarus they panicked. I forgot to mention one other factor. The consolidated position on targeting businesses that supported the regime—and these were facts, not just speculation—created a different attitude inside the business community because they started to think about whether they were right to continue to finance this kind of repressive regime, and maybe they could do something to help the changes and not make the mistake of extraordinary or violent changes. We're talking only about the evolutions and the changes inside the country, peaceful changes.
I think it is very important to use this instrument because you never know how important it is to have assets, or to have access to assets outside the country. As for the top officials, I think it was mentioned here that, rightfully, the oligarchs and those who are close to the Kremlin were targeted. It does create a different attitude and it should continue. Once you've started this policy, there should not be any slack because this is not a policy of one or two days. When you embark on the policy of sanctions you have to allow some period for them to be effective.
I'm very often asked if that could be a strategy. Of course not. That is not a strategy for a relationship between countries in general, but this is the necessary instrument to change the behaviour of oppression and what's more, especially I'm thinking very personally, it's a very necessary and effective instrument to save people's lives.