US, Allies Put More Russian Oligarchs on Pain List

March 3, 2022 by Dan McCue
<strong>US, Allies Put More Russian Oligarchs on Pain List</strong>
The $600 million megayacht Dilbar, owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. It was seized at the yard of a prominent shipbuilder in Hamburg, Germany, where the vessel has been undergoing repairs.

WASHINGTON — The United States and its allies placed new sanctions and other restrictions on 19 Russian oligarchs and dozens of their family members and associates for their continued support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine.

Among those being targeted in the new wave of sanctions is Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov, one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals, whose property will be blocked from use in the U.S. and whose $600 million superyacht was seized on Wednesday by German authorities.

Usmanov made his fortune through his ownership of the Russian metals conglomerate Metalloinvest, media company Kommersant and mobile phone provider Megafon.

His yacht is reputedly the largest in the world by volume. At 512 feet, she is also the sixth-longest vessel of her type. 

The vessel can accommodate up to 24 guests in her spacious 40,000 square foot interior, and, according to her builder, the yacht also has an 82-foot-long, 235-cubic-yard pool, the largest ever installed on a yacht. 

Usmanov is also the owner of the $350 million Airbus A340-300 “Bourhkan,” reputed to be the largest privately owned aircraft in the world.

Among the others sanctioned Thursday are the heads of Russia’s largest companies, who, the U.S. and its allies contend, are responsible for providing the resources necessary to support the invasion.

But not everyone on the list is among the super rich. Also slapped with sanctions today was Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, whom the U.S. and its allies describe as “a top purveyor of the Russian president’s propaganda.”

“These individuals and their family members will be cut off from the U.S. financial system, their assets in the United States will be frozen, and their property will be blocked from use,” a senior administration official said. 

“The Department of [the] Treasury will share financial intelligence and other evidence where appropriate with the Department of Justice to support criminal prosecutions and seizure of assets,” he said.

In addition, the U.S. will immediately impose visa restrictions on 19 oligarchs and 47 of their family members and close associates. 

“As President Biden said, we will continue to work with our allies and partners to hold accountable the Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders who are profiting from this violent regime,” the administration official said.

In addition to Usmanov, others added to the sanctioned list Thursday included:

  • Nikolai Tokarev, his wife Galina, daughter Maya, and his two luxury real estate companies.
  • Boris Rotenberg, his wife Karina, and his sons Roman and Boris.
  • Arkady Rotenberg, his sons Pavel and Igor, and daughter Liliya.
  • Sergei Chemezov, his wife Yekaterina, his son Stanislav, and stepdaughter Anastasiya.
  • Igor Shuvalov, his five companies, his wife Olga, his son Evgeny and his company and jet, and his daughter Maria and her company.
  • Yevgeniy Prigozhin, his three companies, his wife Polina, his daughter Lyubov, and his son Pavel.
  • Dmitry Peskov, President Putin’s press secretary.

The U.S.Treasury Department today will also designate seven Russian disinformation entities as subject to full blocking sanctions. These entities are SDN Strategic Culture Foundation and associated outlets Odna Rodyna, Rhythm of Eurasia and Journal Kamerton; SouthFront; SDN InfoRos; New Eastern Outlook; Oriental Review; United World International; and Geopolitical.

In addition, the Treasury will designate 26 Russia- and Ukraine-based individuals who play central roles in these organizations as subject to full sanctions for helping Russia “spread disinformation and false narratives that advance Russian strategic objectives and falsely justify the Kremlin’s activities.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue

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