US to Impose More Sanctions Against Russia's Wagner Group
The U.S. plans to impose new sanctions on Russia’s Wagner Group this week, including by designating it a significant Transnational Criminal Organization, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Jan. 20. Kirby said the sanctions will target the private military company’s support network “across multiple continents” and “recognize the transcontinental threat that Wagner poses, including through its ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity.”
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Kirby said the transnational criminal organization designation will “open up additional avenues for us to continue to not only sanction Wagner and put more squeeze on their ability to do business around the world, but will assist others in doing the same.” He added that it will expand the network of nations and institutions ceasing business with Wagner.
“With these actions -- and there will be more to come -- our message to any company that is considering providing support to Wagner is simply this: Wagner is a criminal organization that is … committing widespread atrocities and human rights abuses, and we will work relentlessly to identify, disrupt, expose, and target those who are assisting Wagner," Kirby said. The Commerce Department recently designated the Wagner Group as a Russian military end-user, imposing new, stricter license requirements for exports to the company (see 2212210080).