OFAC Announces Russia-Related Election Interference Sanctions
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Russian people, entities and other actors for trying to influence the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, Treasury said in a Sept. 30 press release. The sanctions also increase pressure on Yevgeniy Prigozhin, a previously designated Russian businessman, by sanctioning three of his planes, a yacht and employees of the Internet Research Agency (IRA), which Prigozhin funds, Treasury said.
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The sanctions mark the first designations under President Donald Trump’s September executive order that gave his administration power to target foreign entities for election interference (see 1809120047).
In total, the sanctions target or increase sanctions on four entities, seven people, three aircrafts, a yacht, Prigozhin and the IRA, designated in 2018. Treasury sanctioned Igor Vladimirovich Nesterov and Denis Igorevich Kuzmin and increased sanctions on Dzheykhun Nasimi Ogly Aslanov, Mikhail Leonidovich Burchik, Vadim Vladimirovich Podkopaev and Vladimir Dmitriyevich Venkov for working for the IRA and trying to influence U.S. elections. Treasury also said it is increasing pressure on Prigozhin by “calling out his support for the Internet Research Agency” and sanctioning his personal property. Prigozhin was previously sanctioned in 2018 and 2016.
OFAC also sanctioned Beratex Group Limited, Linburg Industries LTD, Autolex Transport Ltd., three front companies used by Prigozhin “to manage his luxury personal property.” All three companies are registered in the Seychelles.