30 Sep 2019 18:07

U.S. sanctions companies, individuals tied to Prigozhin, Internet Research Agency - Treasury

WASHINGTON. Sept 30 (Interfax) - The United States has sanctioned three companies and two individuals associated with Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Internet Research Agency, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the U.S. Treasury Department division responsible for implementing sanctions, said in a press release.

The companies are Autolex Transport Ltd, Beratex Group Limited, and Linburg Industries Ltd, and the individuals are Denis Kuzmin and Igor Nesterov, both for ties to the Internet Research Agency.

They have been added to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List.

Also sanctioned are the St. Vitamin yacht, with links to Beratex Group Limited, and three aircraft: M-SAAN, linked to Autolex Transport Ltd, RA-02791, linked to Beratex Group Limited and VP-CSP, linked to Linburg Industries Ltd.

"Treasury is targeting the private planes, yacht, and associated front companies of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian financier behind the Internet Research Agency and its attempts to subvert American democratic processes," OFAC said.

"Prigozhin utilizes a series of front companies to manage his luxury personal property to include three private jets and a yacht," it said.