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| US punishes key Putin allies over worldwide 'malign activity' | US punishes key Putin allies over worldwide 'malign activity' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US has imposed sanctions on seven Russian oligarchs and 17 senior government officials, accusing them of "malign activity around the globe". | The US has imposed sanctions on seven Russian oligarchs and 17 senior government officials, accusing them of "malign activity around the globe". |
| Twelve companies owned by the oligarchs, the state arms exporter and a bank are also sanctioned. | Twelve companies owned by the oligarchs, the state arms exporter and a bank are also sanctioned. |
| Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the penalties targeted those profiting from Russia's "corrupt system". | Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the penalties targeted those profiting from Russia's "corrupt system". |
| The move was a response to Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, he said. | The move was a response to Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, he said. |
| The sanctions are also being imposed because of the actions taken by the Kremlin in Crimea, eastern Ukraine and Syria, Mr Mnuchin said in a statement on Friday. | The sanctions are also being imposed because of the actions taken by the Kremlin in Crimea, eastern Ukraine and Syria, Mr Mnuchin said in a statement on Friday. |
| He accused the Russian government of "malicious" cyber-activities and said the sanctions would target "those who benefit from the Putin regime". | He accused the Russian government of "malicious" cyber-activities and said the sanctions would target "those who benefit from the Putin regime". |
| "The Russian government operates for the disproportionate benefit of oligarchs," he added. | "The Russian government operates for the disproportionate benefit of oligarchs," he added. |
| It is the most aggressive action taken by the Trump administration thus far against Moscow. | It is the most aggressive action taken by the Trump administration thus far against Moscow. |
| Russia has not yet responded to the sanctions. | Russia has not yet responded to the sanctions. |
| Last month the US imposed sanctions on 19 Russians, accusing them of interference in the 2016 election and alleged cyber-attacks. | Last month the US imposed sanctions on 19 Russians, accusing them of interference in the 2016 election and alleged cyber-attacks. |
| The US has also expelled dozens of Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK. | The US has also expelled dozens of Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK. |
| Who's been targeted? | Who's been targeted? |
| Among those targeted is Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire aluminium magnate and Putin associate with ties to President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. | Among those targeted is Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire aluminium magnate and Putin associate with ties to President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. |
| Also on the list is Suleiman Kerimov, who is one of Russia's richest men. His family controls Russia's largest gold producer, Polyus, and he has an estimated net worth of $6.3bn (£4.7bn). | Also on the list is Suleiman Kerimov, who is one of Russia's richest men. His family controls Russia's largest gold producer, Polyus, and he has an estimated net worth of $6.3bn (£4.7bn). |
| In November, Mr Kerimov was placed under formal investigation in France on suspicion of tax evasion. | In November, Mr Kerimov was placed under formal investigation in France on suspicion of tax evasion. |
| Alexander Torshin, a senior Russian official with reported ties to the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), has been blacklisted. | Alexander Torshin, a senior Russian official with reported ties to the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), has been blacklisted. |
| Mr Putin's bodyguard, his son-in-law, the head of Russia's national security council, and former prime minister Viktor Zubkov are also sanctioned. | Mr Putin's bodyguard, his son-in-law, the head of Russia's national security council, and former prime minister Viktor Zubkov are also sanctioned. |
| Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, one of the companies targeted, said the sanctions were designed to force Russia out of the global arms market. | Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, one of the companies targeted, said the sanctions were designed to force Russia out of the global arms market. |
| Any assets they have under US jurisdiction have been frozen and US nationals are forbidden from doing business with them. | Any assets they have under US jurisdiction have been frozen and US nationals are forbidden from doing business with them. |
| "This is unfair competition in its purest form," a spokeswoman told Reuters news agency. | "This is unfair competition in its purest form," a spokeswoman told Reuters news agency. |
| Raising the stakes | |
| Barbara Plett Usher, BBC News, Washington | Barbara Plett Usher, BBC News, Washington |
| This is the most aggressive move against Russia taken by the Trump administration: targeting Vladimir Putin's inner circle. | This is the most aggressive move against Russia taken by the Trump administration: targeting Vladimir Putin's inner circle. |
| The name most familiar to Britons will be Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire who was at the centre of a political scandal ten years ago when he entertained Labour's Peter Mandelson and the Conservative shadow chancellor George Osborne on his super yacht. | The name most familiar to Britons will be Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire who was at the centre of a political scandal ten years ago when he entertained Labour's Peter Mandelson and the Conservative shadow chancellor George Osborne on his super yacht. |
| Of more interest here in the US are his connections to Paul Manafort, Mr Trump's former campaign manager. | Of more interest here in the US are his connections to Paul Manafort, Mr Trump's former campaign manager. |
| Congress passed a law last summer calling for such measures and has criticised the Trump administration for taking so long to act. | Congress passed a law last summer calling for such measures and has criticised the Trump administration for taking so long to act. |
| But senior officials insist that they have been planning the moves for some time. | But senior officials insist that they have been planning the moves for some time. |
| These sanctions were already in the works before the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in the UK, so are not a direct response to it. | These sanctions were already in the works before the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in the UK, so are not a direct response to it. |
| But they add to the rising diplomatic tensions between the West and Russia over that incident, and contrast sharply with President Trump's consistently softer approach to Mr Putin. | But they add to the rising diplomatic tensions between the West and Russia over that incident, and contrast sharply with President Trump's consistently softer approach to Mr Putin. |
| Earlier this week, Mr Trump felt compelled to insist he was being tough on Russia but said he still hoped a good relationship with its leader was possible. That seems even less likely now. | Earlier this week, Mr Trump felt compelled to insist he was being tough on Russia but said he still hoped a good relationship with its leader was possible. That seems even less likely now. |