US extends sanctions on Russians over Ukraine civil war
Source: Deutsche Welle
The US added associates of a billionaire Russian gas trader, Crimean port operators and former Ukrainian officials to its list of those penalized. The fresh US sanctions come after the European Union and Canada recently stepped up pressure on Russia to ensure that the country fully implement peace accords reached in Minsk in February but regularly violated.
"Today's action underscores our resolve to maintain pressure on Russia for violating international law and fueling the conflict in eastern Ukraine," John Smith, acting director of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in a statement released late Thursday.
In all, Treasury announced sanctions on about two dozen individuals and entities, including 13 for supporting the evasion of existing measures, two companies operating in Russia's arms sector and five Crimean port operators. The sanctions also target four former Ukrainian officials, members of the ex-Soviet state's leader Viktor Yanukovych's regime, already on the EU sanctions list: Andriy Petrovych Klyuyev, Sergey Vitalievich Kurchenko, Eduard Anatoliyovych Stavytsky, and Oleksandr Viktorovych Yanukovych. In February 2014, Yanukovych fell after months of popular protests that he had tried in vain to suppress violently and fled to Russia with the help of Kremlin security agents.
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In an interview published Friday, former German NATO Ambassador Martin Erdmann told DPA that he would like to see increased cooperation between Russia and the 28-nation alliance - or, at least, a toning down of the animosity. Erdmann stepped down this week after 15 years to become Germany's envoy to Turkey. "We have not yet reached the point that we want to reach, namely to re-enter into a dialogue with Russia," Erdmann told the German press agency. "This lack of dialogue with Russia is, by now understood by many, also within NATO, as a burden," he added.
Read more: http://www.dw.com/en/us-extends-sanctions-on-russians-over-ukraine-civil-war/a-18619568
I realize that the overlap between DU membership and enthusiasts for the Kalashnikov rifle is limited (though n>0), but many AK enthusiasts view this as a back-door gun control measure. This measure will surely amp-up the gun control discussions during 2016, as Russia makes high-quality and (previously) affordable firearms for the American sporting market.
-app
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