That's certainly one take, but I suspect historians will actually link the beginning of this trend to the European/Western reactions to Russia in February of 2022.
It could be framed as "cancel culture overruled the courts". The second Putin became the "literally Hitler" of the moment well anything could be done - even things they didn't do when actual Hitler was around.
This meant extra-judicial seizures including "preventive" seizures. No law was broken or sanction placed yet, but they're going to seize your assets now and figure out how to make it "legal" later on.
Even the Swiss - neutral during WW2 - abandoned over two centuries of neutrality and went along with the EU in this.
The message these countries sent was clear: if you ever oppose us, rule of law will not protect you.
It could be framed as "cancel culture overruled the courts". The second Putin became the "literally Hitler" of the moment well anything could be done - even things they didn't do when actual Hitler was around.
This meant extra-judicial seizures including "preventive" seizures. No law was broken or sanction placed yet, but they're going to seize your assets now and figure out how to make it "legal" later on.
Even the Swiss - neutral during WW2 - abandoned over two centuries of neutrality and went along with the EU in this.
The message these countries sent was clear: if you ever oppose us, rule of law will not protect you.