U.S. tightened sanctions against Russia

Washington expanded the list of individuals and legal entities against which unilateral economic sanctions apply, which were previously imposed on the basis of four executive decrees of the US President in connection with events in Ukraine. This was reported today by the press service of the US Treasury Department.

The department noted that it was decided to extend these restrictive measures to another 11 individuals and 15 legal entities, mainly from Russia. In addition, the Ministry of Finance stated that 35 of their subsidiaries are subject to the restrictions applied to Vnesheconombank of Russia and the Rosneft company.

The list of citizens included: business development manager at the Kalashnikov concern Andrei Bulyutin, former head of the presidential administration of Ukraine Andrei Klyuev, private investor Pyotr Kolbin, Sergei Kurchenko, Alexander Omelchenko, Finnish citizen Kai Paananen, Roman Rotenberg, son of a major businessman Boris Rotenberg, Olga Semenova, Eduard Stavitsky, Oleg Usachev, son of the former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych Alexander Yanukovych.

“Strengthening previously imposed sanctions”

As stated by the acting Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury John Smith, Washington's current actions “underscore the determination” of the American administration “to continue to put pressure on Russia for violating international law and inciting conflict in eastern Ukraine.” “Our message is clear: we will continue to act to ensure the effectiveness of our sanctions, which will not be lifted until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented,” Smith said.

From the point of view of the American authorities, a number of citizens and companies affected by Washington’s new decisions are responsible for assisting Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and the Kalashnikov concern in “serious and sustained evasion” of the American sanctions imposed on them in the recent past.

At the same time, we are not talking about the US government applying any new punitive measures, but about expanding the existing sanctions lists. This also applies to subsidiaries of VEB and Rosneft. As explained in a press release from the US Treasury, the 35 subsidiaries in question “were already subject to the same financial restrictions that apply to their parent companies.”

US State Department spokesman Mark Toner also said that the Ministry of Finance did not impose new sanctions on Russia, and the ministry reinforced the restrictions already imposed by the US authorities.

According to him, these actions are aimed at “countering attempts to circumvent American sanctions.” “They are needed to further align the restrictions imposed by the United States and our international partners, as well as to provide additional information to help the private sector comply with the sanctions regime. This is a fairly common practice,” said a State Department representative.

He again linked the introduction of sanctions with the implementation of the Minsk agreements and once again said that they would be lifted only if it was fully implemented.

When asked about the reason for introducing the restrictions, Toner said it was because the United States wanted to “achieve maximum effect” from the existing sanctions regime. “You constantly need to update them (sanctions) and make sure that all the gaps are addressed and you are moving forward,” he concluded.

In turn, the press secretary of the US Embassy in Moscow, William Stevens, wrote on the microblog on Twitter that sanctions against Roman Rotenberg were not imposed because he is a relative of Boris Rotenberg. “We do not impose sanctions against people on family grounds,” the diplomat emphasized.

According to Stevens, Roman Rotenberg was included in this list "because he was involved in activities aimed at circumventing sanctions."

The US Embassy spokesman also noted that new sanctions against Russia “are a routine step designed to strengthen existing measures.” “The purpose of the sanctions introduced today is to make sure that the previously introduced restrictive measures remain effective,” the diplomat added.