Yesterday, Tuesday, the United States imposed new sanctions related to Russia targeting a network for purchasing defense equipment consisting of individuals and entities in Belgium, Sweden, Hong Kong and others, as Washington seeks to confront Moscow’s avoidance of Western sanctions imposed on it due to the war in Ukraine.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement that the network, run by Belgium-based businessman Hans de Gueter, is involved in purchasing electronics with military uses for Russian end users.
It stated that the network consists of nine entities and five individuals in Russia, Belgium, Cyprus, Sweden, Hong Kong and the Netherlands.
The US Department of Justice also unveiled two separate indictments against de Guiterie related to his scheme to export sensitive technology with military uses from the United States to end users in China and Russia, while the Commerce Department added him and five entities to the Entity List.
“The United States and our allies continue to focus on obstructing any attempts by Russia or its trusted proxies to access sensitive inputs and technologies necessary to support Moscow’s defense industry and facilitate its brutal war in Ukraine,” Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement.
The Russian Embassy in Washington has not yet responded to a request for comment.
De Guiterre could not yet be reached for comment.
Belgian media reported that he denied charges of evading sanctions, and reported that he said, “We export jewelry, not advanced technology.”
Washington accused the Belgian businessman of being a long-time purchasing agent for Russia and working as a director of several companies in Belgium, Cyprus and the Netherlands.
The Treasury Department separately imposed sanctions on 11 entities and seven individuals in a move it said was aimed at increasing pressure on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko over what it said was his suppression of democratic civil society, the enrichment of his family through financial corruption, and his involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The action taken Tuesday freezes any US assets of those targeted and generally prohibits Americans from doing business with them.
