Obama Administration Sanctions Prominent Russian, Ukrainian Nationals
President Barack Obama issued an executive order on March 17 to sanction seven high-ranking Russian nationals in connection with Russian violation of Ukrainian territorial integrity and to authorize sanctions on additional individuals involved in recent the recent crisis in Ukraine, the White House said in a press release. The order blocks property and interests in property located in the U.S. of the following individuals and blocks the transfer of funds to the individuals:
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- Yelena Mizulina, State Duma deputy
- Leonid Slutsky, State Duma deputy
- Andrei Klishas, chairman of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Law, Judicial and Legal Affairs and the Development of Civil Society
- Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko, Federation Council speaker
- Dmitry Olegovich Rogozin, deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation
- Vladislav Yurievich Surkov, presidential aide to the president of the Russian Federation
- Sergey Glazyev, presidential advisor to the president of the Russian Federation
The executive order authorizes the Treasury Department, in conjunction with the State Department, to implement or rescind the sanctions. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on March 17 added (here) these seven individuals to the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals list, along with the following four additional individuals.
- Sergey Valeryevich Aksyonov
- Vladimir Andreyevich Konstantinov
- Viktor Medvedchuk
- Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych, deposed president of Ukraine
Obama issued an initial executive order to authorize sanctions on Russian nationals on March 6 (see 14030614). Pursuant to the March 6 order, the March 17 executive order mandates that the property owned by the seven individuals, including such property controlled by a U.S. person, is blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn or otherwise dealt in. The order also blocks the transfer of funds to the seven individuals, and bans their entry into the U.S.
"The United States also will seek to hold accountable individuals who use their resources or influence to support or act on behalf of senior Russian government officials," said the White House in a press release (here). "We recognize that the Russian leadership derives significant support from, and takes action through, individuals who do not themselves serve in any official capacity. Our current focus is to identify these individuals and target their personal assets, but not companies that they may manage on behalf of the Russian state." Congress failed to reach a compromise on Ukraine legislation in order to send a bill to the president's desk prior to departing the Capitol for March recess. The House and Senate reconvene on March 24.