Washington on Tuesday introduced a brand new spherical of embargoes focusing on Russia’s finance and expertise sectors, particularly the semiconductor business. Among the many entities sanctioned by the State Division are the Skolkovo expertise park outdoors Moscow – Russia’s equal of Silicon Valley – and MMK, one of many world’s largest metal producers.
The Skolkovo Basis, Technopark Skolkovo LLC and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Expertise (Skoltech) discovered themselves blacklisted for “working or having operated within the expertise sector of the Russian Federation financial system.”
Additionally focused by the State Division sanctions was the Moscow Institute of Physics and Expertise (MFTI), for “working or having operated within the protection and associated materiel sector,” particularly creating drones to be used by the Russian navy.
The Treasury Division stated the brand new US sanctions had been focusing on “Kremlin-connected elites, a serious multinational firm, and a sanctions evasion operation, in addition to one yacht.” The embargoed “elites” and companies function in “financial sectors that generate substantial income for the Russian regime,” the Treasury stated.
The sanctioned yacht is Alfa Blacka Cayman Islands-flagged ship belonging to the newly sanctioned Andrey Guryev. He’s the founding father of PhosAgro, the main Russian producer of chemical fertilizer. The corporate itself has not been sanctioned, the Treasury hastened to notice.
Alfa Black “has reportedly shut off its location monitoring {hardware} as a way to keep away from seizure,” the US authorities added.
Among the many 13 people and 30 entities sanctioned on Tuesday is Viktor Rashnikov, majority proprietor and chairman of the board of MMK, together with the Magnitogorsk-based steel-maker itself. MMK’s finance division and the Turkish-based MMK Metalurji subsidiary had been additionally embargoed. Individuals who’ve open enterprise with MMK have till September 1 to wrap it up, and till October 3 to divest any money owed. The deadline for coping with the Turkish firm is January 31, 2023.
Essentially the most notable title on the listing of “elites” allegedly near the Kremlin is Alina Kabaeva. The retired rhythmic gymnast and former lawmaker was sanctioned for having been a authorities official, having a “shut relationship” to President Vladimir Putin, and being the pinnacle of the Nationwide Media Group, “a pro-Kremlin empire of tv, radio, and print organizations.”
Again in 2015, British tabloids unfold the rumor that Kabaeva was Putin’s secret lover, after the Russian president was not seen in public for over per week – having been on vacation.