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The Russian flag flies on the Russian Embassy in Washington, United States, on August 6, 2018. REUTERS / Brian Snyder
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two Ukrainians, one Russian and nine Ukrainian and Russian entities, for the annexation of Crimea by Moscow and related human rights violations. announced the US Treasury.
One of the sanctioned entities – the Southern Project limited liability company – was linked to Bank Rossiya and Russian businessman Yuri Kovulchuk, the Treasury said in a statement.
"The Treasury remains committed to targeting Russia-backed entities seeking to profit from the illegal annexation and occupation of Crimea by Russia," said Sigal Mandelker, Undersecretary of the Treasury. and the financial intelligence of the Treasury in a statement.
The sanctions are aimed at further punishing Moscow for its annexation in 2014 of the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula and its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Detractors of President Donald Trump accused him of not being cautious towards Russia and Congress lobbied for tougher sanctions in Moscow, including for his interference in the elections 2016 presidential elections. Russia has denied any involvement.
Andriy Sushko, an officer of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia, is blacklisted. The Treasury Department said it was responsible for the kidnapping in 2017 of a Crimean Tatar activist, who was tortured while in detention.
The sanctions also target companies that, according to the Treasury, have benefited from the annexation of Crimea. Among them is the Mriya Resort and Spa, a hotel investment supported by Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, on the south shore of Crimea in Yalta, the department said.
The state security ministry of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic has also been added to the list, the Treasury said.
Tim Ahmann, Makini Brice and Lesley Wroughton; Edited by Mohammad Zargham and Tom Brown
