US imposed sanctions against companies from Russia and Central African Republic
Photo: The USA imposed sanctions against companies from Russia and the CAR
The United States has imposed sanctions against the Russian company Limited Liability Company Broker Expert and the Central African Republic firm Bois Rouge SARLU, which are linked to the activities of the Wagner Group, according to the US Department of the Treasury.
Sanctions against these companies were imposed for their efforts in supporting harmful activities by Russia in the Central African Republic (CAR). It is claimed that the sanctioned entities played a significant role in supporting the actions of the Wagner Group in the CAR. These companies are alleged to have sought financial gain from the illegal extraction of natural resources and provided material and financial support to Russian-backed militants.
In particular, Limited Liability Company Broker Expert, based in St. Petersburg, supplied goods to companies associated with Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin operating in the CAR and Sudan. Additionally, Broker Expert was a supplier of helmets for Wagner Group mercenaries in Ukraine.
Furthermore, the Wagner Group utilized the company for regular fund transfers to finance harmful activities. For instance, a company associated with Prigozhin, engaged in a joint mining venture with a Malagasy state enterprise in Madagascar, received funds from Broker Expert.
"Russia has sought to leverage these Wagner-affiliated companies in its efforts both to secure additional revenue from abroad and to advance its interests in Africa, often at the expense of the host countries, their institutions, and their citizens," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
In turn, Bois Rouge SARLU, linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, secured a concession for natural resource extraction in the CAR in exchange for services provided by the Wagner Group to the government of the republic. Bois Rouge is involved in exporting tropical wood species such as azobe, iroko, mukulungu, sapelli, and tali to China, the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia.
Sanctions against Russia by the United States
The United States initiated sanctions against Russia following the annexation of Crimea in 2014. American sanctions targeted banks, businessmen, politicians, and leaders of the so-called DPR (Donetsk People's Republic) and LPR (Luhansk People's Republic).
Over the course of ten years, the American sanctions list has significantly expanded. A new comprehensive sanctions package against Russia was adopted on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and was published on February 23. The new sanctions target over 500 entities.
Specifically, these sanctions are directed at the leading Russian tanker group, Sovcomflot, for violating the price limit on Russian oil set by the Group of Seven countries. Additionally, sanctions are imposed on 14 oil tankers associated with Sovkomflot.
It was also reported that US President Joe Biden extended the duration of certain directives regulating the imposition of sanctions against Russia for another year.
