US Imposes Sanctions, Visa Restrictions on Russian Officials, Entities
The U.S. Department of State has, on Ukrainian Independence Day, taken significant actions to promote accountability for individuals and entities connected to the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukraine’s children.
These measures were contained in a statement by the Office of the Spokesperson and made available to Excel Magazine International on Friday.
The Department of State is imposing sanctions and visa restrictions under various legal authorities aimed at holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
Excel Magazine International learnt that several individuals and one entity are being designated under Executive Order 14024, which authorizes sanctions against harmful foreign activities of the Russian government.
These individuals include: Galina Anatolevna Pyatykh, advisor to the Governor of Belgorod and Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Belgorod region, Irina Anatolyevna Ageeva, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Kaluga region and Irina Aleksandrovna Cherkasova, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Rostov region.
Others are Mansur Mussaevich Soltaev, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Chechen Republic and Muslim Magomedovich Khuchiev, Chairman of the government of the Chechen Republic.
The entity designated is the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institute International Children Center Artek, located in Russia-occupied Crimea.
Visa restrictions are being applied under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
These restrictions target Russian Federation military officials and Russia-backed or Russia-installed purported authorities who have been involved in human rights abuses, violations of international humanitarian law, or public corruption in Ukraine.
Notable individuals facing these restrictions include: Olena Oleksandrivna Shapurova, the Russia-appointed “Minister of Education and Science” in Russia-controlled portions of the Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine, Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation (AKF), involved in the “re-education” of Ukrainian children in camps outside Grozny in the Chechen Republic and Aymani Nesievna Kadyrova, a member of the board of directors of AKF.
Others are Vladimir Vladislavovich Kovalenko, Chief of Staff of the Sevastopol Branch of Youth Army and Vladimir Dmitrievich Nechaev, the Russia-appointed head of Sevastopol State University in Crimea.
These measures include blocking property and interests in property of the designated persons within the United States and U.S. persons’ control, as well as restricting certain transactions unless authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Additionally, visa restrictions are imposed on individuals involved in human rights abuses against Ukrainian civilian minors, particularly in connection with the deportation, transfer, and confinement of Ukrainian children by Russian Federation and Russia-backed authorities.
