The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers recently indicted by the Department of Justice for playing a significant role in the Kremlin’s attempts to conduct global malign influence operations, including efforts to influence US elections.

“The Kremlin continues to target a key pillar of democracy around the world – free and fair elections,” Under-Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said on Friday.

“The United States will not tolerate threats to our democracy, and today’s action builds on the whole of government approach to protect our system of representative government, including our democratic institutions and elections processes,” Nelson noted.

The Kremlin seeks to expand Russia’s influence by creating and exploiting societal divisions in the United States and among allies and partners; reducing confidence in democratic processes; weakening US diplomatic ties; and encouraging anti-US and anti-democratic political views.

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.

In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the United States remains committed to deterring and disrupting the Russian Federation’s repeated attempts to undermine the democratic processes in the United States and other countries.

“To safeguard our democracy, as well as help protect our allies and partners, the United States will continue to act to deter and disrupt the Kremlin’s malign influence operations,” he vowed.

Source: Kuwait News Agency