The United States continues to impose sanctions against Russian companies, authorities and oligarchs for the invasion of Ukraine.
On Wednesday, the Treasury Department unveiled the latest package, this time against a key commercial bank and “a global network of more than 40 individuals and entities led by Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev.”
In a press releasethe Department indicated that it was targeting “companies operating in Russia’s virtual currency industry, reportedly the third largest in the world,” noting that it was the first time it had targeted a cryptocurrency company.
To complete the package, the State Department is imposing a series of visa restrictions on 635 Russian citizens “involved in suppressing dissent in Russia and abroad.” […] in activities that threaten the territorial integrity of Ukraine and […] on human rights abuses in unofficial prison facilities and places of detention in Russian-controlled areas in the Donbas region of Ukraine.” And three Russian officials “for their participation in serious human rights violations” and “17 people responsible for undermining democracy in Belarus.”
Maloféyev was already sanctioned in December 2014 for financing “separatist activities in eastern Ukraine” and for his close ties to Aleksandr Borodai, separatist leader Igor Girkin and the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, who have also been previously sanctioned.
Earlier this month, Washington filed its first charges against Malofeyev since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, accusing him of trying to evade sanctions.
This Wednesday Maloféyev was again sanctioned “for having acted or pretended to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly” the Russian government. The Treasury Department also sanctioned members of Malofeyev’s “vast global network of proxies for attempting to evade sanctions and engage in malign influence activities,” including those involved in pro-Kremlin propaganda. Those sanctioned include entities in Russia, Moldova, Singapore and various Russian individuals, and even Malofeyev’s son.
The Treasury Department also went after the “public joint-stock company Transkapitalbank (TKB) and its subsidiaries” for being at the center of sanctions evasion.
“The United States is committed to ensuring that no asset, no matter how complex, becomes a mechanism for the Putin regime to offset the impact of sanctions,” said the statement issued on Wednesday referring to cryptocurrencies.
