Foreign
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE Russian government, under Vladimir Putin may be in more trouble as the U.S on March 11, 2022 listed stricter sanctions and bans on their businesses and citizens following the continued invasion of Ukraine. This was disclosed by Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State in a press statement: “Continuing to hold the Kremlin to account.”
According to him, in ensuring that the Government of the Russian Federation pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its invasion of Ukraine, the President Biden-led administration continues to take additional actions against it.
Blinken noted in the statement that the Biden-led administration will work closely with Congress to ensure that Russia forfeits its economic benefits from mutual organizations.
“Specifically, the Administration will work closely with Congress to deny Russia the benefits of its World Trade Organization membership and ensure that Russian imports do not receive most favoured nation treatment in our economy,” it stated
“President Biden issued an Executive Order, EO, to ban further imports and exports related to Russia, consistent with commitments made by the G7 leaders to deny Russia export revenues,” it said.
This EO, according to Blinken, “prohibits the importation into the United States of the following products of Russian Federation origin: fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; alcoholic beverages and non-industrial diamonds.
“The exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a U.S. person, wherever located, of U.S. dollar-denominated banknotes to the Government of the Russian Federation or to any person located in Russia.”
He also disclosed that through the Department of Commerce, the American government has also “imposed new controls on exports of luxury goods to Russia, including high-end automobiles, alcoholic spirits, tobacco, leather handbags and luggage, silk, home decors, designer clothing, and jewelry.
Furthermore, through the Department of State and Department of the Treasury, Viktor Vekselberg and some board members of Novikombank are receiving strict sanctions. These sanctions and the affected Russians include Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva, Chairwoman of Novikombank, AO ABR Management and four of its board members, redesignation of Yuri Valentinovich Kovalchuk and Kirill Mikhailovich Kovalchuk, and designation of their family members, Dmitri Alekseevich Lebedev, AO ABR Management board member, Chairman of the board of sanctioned Bank Rossiya, Vladimir Nikolaevich Knyaginin, Vice Governor of St. Petersburg, redesignation of Viktor Vekselberg and blocking of his aircraft and yacht, designation of 10 board members of VTB Bank, 12 members of the Russian Duma who led the effort to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, the wife and adult children of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
“These individuals and entities were designated pursuant to Executive Order 14024” in support to the people of Ukraine and imposing severe costs and consequences for the Kremlin’s war of choice,” it added.
KN
Tags: Dmitri Alekseevich Lebedev Dmitry Peskov Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva Kennedy Nnamani Kirill Mikhailovich Kovalchuk President Bide Viktor Vekselberg Vladimir Nikolaevich Knyaginin Yuri Valentinovich Kovalchuk
