"Blocking Putin's Wallet"... US Government Imposes Additional Sanctions on About 10 Close Associates of Putin

US Treasury: Additional Sanctions on Lavish Assets of Putin's Close Associates

Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over a meeting of the presidential advisory body, the "State Council," at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow on the 25th of last month (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The U.S. government has decided to include more than 10 close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian figures in its additional sanctions list.

On the 2nd (local time), according to CNN, the U.S. Treasury and State Departments announced additional sanctions that include luxury assets such as yachts and aircraft owned by Putin's close associates. The U.S. Department of Commerce also imposed new sanctions to limit Russia's ability to acquire military technology.

The sanctions list includes Russian elites and government officials such as Russian businessman God Nisanov and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mariya Zakharova. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Nisanov as "one of the wealthiest people in Europe and a close associate of several Russian officials."

Yuri Slyusar, president of the Russian state airline, as well as the ministers of transportation, economic development, and construction, and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Gorylenko were also named in the sanctions.

The U.S. government included four yachts owned by Monaco-based yacht brokerage company Imperial Yacht, yachts linked to President Putin, or Russian companies already under sanctions, as well as some aircraft on the sanctions list. The Treasury Department explained that Putin primarily uses the yacht Nega when traveling in northern Russia.

Additionally, Sergey Roldugin, artistic director of the Saint Petersburg concert hall and known as "Putin's wallet," will be sanctioned by the U.S. government. Roldugin is also the godfather of Putin's eldest daughter, Mariya.

The White House stated in a press release that these sanctions are "intended to prevent evasion and enhance enforcement to increase pressure on Putin and his inner circle."