Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chief Executive of oil producer Rosneft Igor Sechin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on February 15, 2021. (Photo by Mikhail KLIMENTYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP)
BRUSSELS 鈥� The European Union on Monday added top Kremlin-linked oligarchs and Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 spokesman to its sanctions blacklist as part of its latest round of punishment over the Ukraine invasion.
The bloc targeted some of the key moneymen accused of backing Putin鈥檚 regime in response to his ordering Russian forces into Russia鈥檚 pro-Western neighbor last week.
Among the high-profile names were close Putin allies Igor Sechin, head of state oil giant Rosneft, and Nikolay Tokarev, boss of pipeline mammoth Transneft.
Three men ranked within Russia鈥檚 10 top richest by Forbes were also added: metals magnate Alexei Mordashov, tycoon Alisher Usmanov, and businessman and Putin friend Gennady Timchenko.
In addition there were also top bankers Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven.
Plus there was Sergei Roldugin, a cellist and long-time Putin confidante accused of 鈥溾�榮huffling鈥� at least $2 billion through banks and offshore companies as a part of Putin鈥檚 hidden financial network.鈥�
鈥淲ith these additional sanctions, we are targeting all who are having a significant economic role in supporting Putin鈥檚 regime, and benefit financially from the system,鈥� EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
鈥淭hese sanctions will expose the wealth of Putin鈥檚 elite. Those who enable the invasion of Ukraine will pay a price for their action.鈥�
Beyond the top businessmen, the EU said it was also targeting key propagandists.
Most prominently these included Putin mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov, a central figure in what the West sees as the Kremlin鈥檚 disinformation machine.
Also on the list were the ministers for housing, tourism and transport as well as senior military commanders accused of involvement in the Ukraine campaign.
Putin himself and his foreign minister were also recently subjected to asset freezes as the EU batters the Kremlin with sanctions.
More wide-sweeping measures, including prohibiting transactions with Russia鈥檚 central bank, have helped send the Russian economy into turmoil.
Oligarch denies political role
In a statement released by Mordashov鈥檚 metals and mining conglomerate Severstal, the tycoon said he had nothing to do with the politics around Ukraine.
鈥淲hat is happening in Ukraine is a tragedy for two fraternal nations,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 have never been close to politics,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 have absolutely nothing to do with the emergence of the current geopolitical tension and I do not understand why the EU has imposed sanctions on me.鈥�
In Washington, officials were also planning more sanctions on Russian tycoons.
US State Department Spokesman Ned Price said the US sanctions list would not be identical with those from the EU and Britain, but that they 鈥渨ill ultimately be symmetrical and mutually reinforcing.鈥�
鈥淲e are going to identify, we are going to hunt down and freeze the assets of Russian companies and oligarchs. We are going to hunt down their yachts. We are going to hunt down their mansions, any other ill-gotten gains that we can find in freeze under the law,鈥� Price said.
He added that the United States would also target 鈥渢heir ability to send their children to boarding schools around the world.鈥�
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