On April 14, 2021, the Biden Administration announced it imposed new sanctions against Russia for its alleged involvement in the U.S. 2020 election interference and the solar winds cyber infiltration.
In a press statement, the White House announced new sanction against six Russian companies with ties to Russian spy services cyber hacking and will expel 10 Russian diplomats in the United States. It also officially named the Russian intelligence service (SVR) for their alleged involvement in the SolarWinds hack that affected several U.S. agencies and 100 private firms.
The White House also released approaches to bettering cybersecurity, including “bolstering its efforts to promote a framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace and to cooperate with allies and partners to counter malign cyber activities.” Also, the Department of Defense is “taking steps to incorporate additional allies, including the UK, France, Denmark, and Estonia, into the planning for CYBER FLAG 21-1, which is an exercise designed to improve our defensive capabilities and resiliency in cyberspace.”
The Treasury Department also released a press statement of the actions they will take under the new sanctions. The Treasury sanctioned 32 entities and individuals allegedly directed by the Russian government to influence the 2020 U.S. presidential elections. The acts included disseminating disinformation and other actions aimed to influence and undermine the election.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed financial sanctions that prevent U.S. financial institutions from purchasing government bonds from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.
“This action seeks to disrupt the coordinated efforts of Russian officials, proxies, and intelligence agencies to delegitimize our electoral process. The U.S. government will continue to pursue those who engage in such activity,” the White House Press release statement said.
These sanctions are noteworthy because they are comprehensive as they sanction individuals, companies, and entities alike.
The April issue of the IELR will have a more comprehensive discussion of this topic.
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