The U.S. issued new sanctions Thursday against Russian oligarchs. These include some of Europe’s most wealthy men and their families.
Sergei Roldugin was also among the latest U.S. sanctions for Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. He is considered to be a custodian Putin’s offshore wealth.
The announcements by the Departments of Treasury, State and Commerce also include sanctions on God Nisanov (one of Europe’s richest men) and Alexey Murdashov (one of Russia’s most wealthy billionaires), along with his wife and their two adult children.
These actions are part President Joe Biden’s promise to pursue Russian elites “ill-gotten gains” after the Russian invasion in Ukraine in February.
Brian Nelson, the undersecretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated in a statement that Russia’s elites, including President Putin, depend on complex support networks to hide and move their wealth and luxury assets.
He stated that he would continue to enforce his sanctions and expose corrupt systems through which President Putin’s elites gain their wealth.
The Russian-flagged Graceful and the Cayman Islands-flagged Olympia are among the blocked property associated with Putin’s Imperial Yachts SARL.
To impose thousands upon Russian elites, oligarchs, and banks, the U.S. worked closely with allies in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. Allies governments have taken every step to ban individuals from trading in Russian gold in America and to prohibit companies from providing legal, consulting, or accounting services to anyone in Russia.
The EU and the U.S. have allowed Russia’s natural gas and oil to flow freely around the globe until recently. The EU leaders agreed Monday night to reduce Russian oil imports by around 90% in the next six-months, a move previously unimaginable months ago.
Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, stated in a statement that Ukraine is fighting valiantly for its people and independence with unprecedented assistance from the United States as well as other countries around the globe. The United States will continue its support to the Ukrainian people and promote accountability for President Putin as well as those who enable Russian aggression.
Other sanctions include Yury Slyusar (president of United Aircraft Corp.); Vitaly Savelyev (Russia’s transport minister); Maxim Reshetnikov (minister of economic development); Irek Envarovich Faizullin (minister of construction, housing, and utilities); and Dmitriy Yuryevich Nikolaenkothe (chief of the government staff).
Treasury, the Justice Department, and other agencies created a task force called REPO earlier this year. This was short for Russian Elites Proxies and Oligarchs. It worked with other countries to investigate and bring to justice oligarchs and others who are allied to Putin.
