The US will impose sanctions against 12 Russian companies

The US Department of Commerce intends to add to the sanctions list 12 Russian companies that, in the opinion of the department, threaten American security and act contrary to US interests.

Details

• Restrictions will apply to Research Institute Vector, Research and Production Enterprise Gamma, Cyrus Systems and Infotex for involvement in Russian malicious activities in cyberspace, Divetechnoservice and NPP Okeanos for providing equipment and supporting the Navy Russia, Aerocomposite, Aviadvigatel Design Bureau, NPP Tekhnologiya, NPP Precision Instrumentation Systems and Vega Research Institute - for cooperation with the military aviation industry, as well as Nilco Group - for participating in Iran's nuclear program, it is said in notice posted on the Federal Register website.
• The sanctions provide for a "presumption of refusal" when a license is granted to export or transfer US goods or equipment to these companies. The restrictions will come into effect on September 26.
• Two companies - Scientific Research Institute "Vector" and Research and Production Enterprise "Tekhnologiya" - are part of the state corporation "Rostec". “How will this affect us? No way, ” a representative of the state-owned company commented on the restrictions.
• Divetechnoservice, the largest supplier of underwater equipment, was previously sanctioned by the US Treasury. Then the company came under US restrictions for working with Russian intelligence agencies, which are called a source of cyber threats to the US and other countries.
• The Bell previously wrote that Infotex helped the Kvant Research Institute (which fell under the same sanctions of the Ministry of Finance) to purchase a system under the called Remote Control System (RCS). This software allows you to track all actions on an infected device: take screenshots, connect to a webcam and microphone, intercept correspondence in instant messengers and email, and recognize which keys the owner of a computer or smartphone has pressed.

Context

• Last week, the US State Department imposed sanctions against 33 Russian individuals and legal entities. In addition, Washington for the first time applied secondary sanctions to foreigners for deals with Russia: the Department of Training and Supply of the Central Military Council of China, which bought Su-35 and S-400 from Russia, suffered.
• In June, the US Treasury imposed sanctions against Russian companies and citizens for working with Russian intelligence agencies. Under the restrictions was a supplier of underwater equipment (“Divetechnoservice”), specialists in the field of information security headquartered in Palo Alto (St. , associated with it) and the inconspicuous Research Institute "Kvant" from the Moscow district of Khovrino. More details - here .
• On March 15, 2018, the US Treasury published a sanctions list that included 19 Russians and five organizations that allegedly interfered in the US elections. Sanctions included, in particular, the Internet Research Agency, also known as the “troll factory”. Most of those who were sanctioned worked for this company (you can read more about who these people are here ). Five Russians from the new list, including businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, as well as two of his other companies (Concord Management and Concord Catering), the FSB of Russia and the GRU have already been sanctioned earlier.
• Now the United States is actively discussing the issue of strengthening sanctions against Russia for interference in the elections. They, in particular, involve a ban on investment in Russian government debt and freezing all US assets and correspondent accounts of Russian state-owned banks. You can read more about the first bill here , and about the second one here . The fact that the sanctions will definitely be adopted in one form or another, it became clear from the hearings in the US Senate.

Liana Faizova