President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he would add to the list of oligarchs that the United States is sanctioning in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s Companion includes eight Russian elites and their families. According to the company, these individuals will be separated from the US financial system, assets in the United States will be frozen, and their use will be blocked. White House statement Released on March 3rd.
“One of the big factors is, of course, close to Vladimir Putin,” White House spokesman Jen Psaki said of his strategy on who to sanction. “We want him to feel oppressive, we want the people around him to feel oppressive.”
Saki added that this is likely not the last oligarch set to be sanctioned.
The new sanctions also include visa restrictions on 19 Russian elites and 47 families and relatives.
The White House also states that it is working with foreign governments to seize the assets of the Russian elite, including “yachts, luxury condominiums, money and other unfair profits.”
Biden told reporters Thursday that the sanctions already imposed on Putin’s inner circle “have already had a serious impact.”
“Our interest is in maintaining the strongest unified economic effect campaign for Putin in all history, and I think we are on the right track to carry it out.” Said Biden.
In this week’s State of the Union address in Biden, he announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is making efforts to track the assets of Russia’s oligarchs. According to Thursday’s announcement, the Treasury will share financial information and other evidence with the Justice Department as needed to assist in criminal charges and foreclosures of assets.
He also reiterated on Thursday that the United States “will continue to support the Ukrainian people with direct assistance.”
The oligarch list includes Alisher Usmanov, “one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals and a close ally of Putin,” and Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Putin.
Others include Nikolai Tokarev, Boris Rotenberg, Arkadi Rotenberg, Sergey Chemezov, Igor Schwarov, Eugénie Archipelago, and their families.
The White House announcement also includes sanctions on a list of Russian think tanks and media that are considered “disinformation targets.”
“These entities have advanced Russia’s strategic goals and disseminated false stories that falsely justify the Kremlin’s activities,” the White House statement said.
The list of entities designated by the Treasury includes the SDN Strategic Culture Foundation and related outlets Odna Rodyna, Rhythm of Eurasia, and Journal Kamerton. South Front; SDN InfoRos; New Eastern Perspective; Oriental Review; United World International; and Geopolitics.
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Nick Ciolino covers the White House.