US sanctions Putin girlfriend, Russian billionaires

Source: The Hill | August 2, 2022 | Morgan Chalfant

The Biden administration on Tuesday imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rumored girlfriend Alina Kabaeva and several other wealthy Russians, further squeezing Moscow over its war in Ukraine.

The Treasury Department said in an announcement that it was designating Kabaeva, a former Olympic rhythmic gymnast who currently heads the pro-Kremlin National Media Group and is reportedly the longtime girlfriend of the Russian president. The Treasury announcement acknowledges only that Kabaeva has a “close relationship” to Putin.

The announcement comes after the United Kingdom and European Union imposed sanctions on Kabaeva earlier this year. The White House had held off doing so until now.

……..

As a result, any property Kabaeva holds in the United States will be blocked.

Treasury also imposed sanctions on Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev, a former Kremlin official and founder of Russian chemical company PhosAgro, and his son. Guryev owns the Witanhurst estate in London, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and has already been sanctioned by the U.K.

The Treasury Department said Tuesday it had identified a yacht owned by Guryev in the Cayman Islands, the Alfa Nero, as blocked property that officials are now likely to look to seize.

Additionally, the administration said it is sanctioning Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov and the Russian steel company he owns, MMK, as well as two of its subsidiaries.

Natalya Popova, first deputy director of the Russian tech company Institute Innopraktika, will also be subject to new sanctions, the announcement said.

……..

Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.