Russian oligarchs spend millions lobbying to lift US sanctions over Ukraine war
Putin's oligarchs Sergey Chemezov and Vasily Brovko (Russian media)
Two Russian oligarchs have paid large sums to a US law firm to lobby for the removal of personal US sanctions. The individuals are key allies of Vladimir Putin — the President of Russia — and serve as top executives of the Russian defense conglomerate Rostec: Sergey Chemezov and Vasily Brovko, according to freelance American journalist Katie Livingstone and the US Department of Justice.
How much Brovko and Chemezov paid lobbyists
According to Livingston, in early 2025, Brovko and Chemezov hired the Washington-based law firm Rathmell Short LLP to try to overturn US sanctions. Both oligarchs are under sanctions for supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
However, they are legally using the services of attorneys thanks to a loophole that, according to experts, falls into a legal gray area.
In March, Rathmell Short LLP signed a $2.6 million contract to advise Putin's oligarchs on US sanctions law. The services include preparing delisting requests and engaging with the US State Department and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The contract also allows coordination with a US lobbying firm to support efforts aimed at lifting the sanctions. According to Livingston, this is another controversial point that technically remains within the bounds of the law.
OFAC regulations do allow sanctioned individuals to hire legal counsel to challenge their designation. However, the case of Chemezov and Brovko shows how figures closely tied to the Kremlin continue to find loopholes. As journalist Livingston added, Donald Trump's remarks that Putin is "playing with fire" ring hollow while his oligarchs gain access to US power circles.
What sanctions Chemezov and Brovko are trying to lift
Livingston's information is confirmed by data from the official website of the US Department of Justice, which publishes disclosures related to foreign agents. There, RBC-Ukraine found several agreements between Sergey Chemezov and his advisor Vasily Brovko on one side, and Rathmell Short LLP, which will represent their interests in the United States, on the other.
Photo: Agreements between Chemezov and Brovko and Rathmell Short LLP (efile.fara.gov)
The agreement also involves the lobbying firm Sonoran Policy Group (Stryk Global Diplomacy). Its stated goal is to support efforts aimed at lifting and reviewing the sanctions. The documents indicate that Chemezov and Brovko are specifically seeking the removal of personal sanctions imposed against them.
According to the documents, they are seeking the removal of sanctions under:
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Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR Part 587) – imposed for activities threatening US national security, including the war against Ukraine
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Ukraine-/Russia-related Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR Part 589) – introduced following the annexation of Crimea and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Who are Chemezov and Brovko
Sergey Chemezov is a Russian general, politician, and economist. Since December 2007, he has served as the CEO of the state-owned corporation Rostec. He is also the head of the Union of Machine Builders of Russia and a member of the Supreme Council Bureau of the ruling party, United Russia.
Due to his support for the Russia-Ukraine war and his close ties to Vladimir Putin, Chemezov is under sanctions from the United States, all 27 EU countries, and several other nations. Investigative journalists have reported that his family controls offshore assets worth over $300 million. One of his yachts alone is estimated to be worth $140 million.
Vasily Brovko is a special projects director at Rostec and a media executive. He is also under sanctions due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Rostec is a Russian state corporation that includes 15 holding companies, most of which develop and produce high-tech military equipment.
A German bank previously stopped accepting Russian payments to the account of former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who is also close to Putin. Schröder is the chairman of the board of Nord Stream 2 and a prominent Kremlin lobbyist in Europe.
Despite Putin's claims that Western sanctions supposedly make Russia stronger, the issue is clearly a major concern for his regime. According to Reuters, one of the points in a proposed ceasefire memorandum on Ukraine includes the lifting of at least some sanctions.
Meanwhile, Reuters also reports that domestic pressure on US President Donald Trump is growing regarding Russia sanctions. The agency suggests that he may have no choice but to strengthen them.
