Russian national, sanctioned for money laundering with virtual currency for Russian elites, was designated by the Treasury as a collaborator with cybercriminals. The United States confirmed this action in a recent press release published on the U.S. Department of the Treasury's website.
"Russian national was sanctioned for money laundering for Russian elites", according to the statement released. This crackdown on Zhdanova's illicit actions is consistent with G7's commitment to closing loopholes that allow Russians to leverage virtual currency aggressively, bypassing imposed international sanctions.
"Through key facilitators like Zhdanova, Russian elites, ransomware groups and other illicit actors sought to evade U.S. and international sanctions, particularly through the abuse of virtual currency," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. He added they remain focused on safeguarding the U.S. and international financial system against those who seek to exploit technology among other illicit finance risks in the virtual ecosystem.
In addition to these actions, a statement published by the White House reveals that the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) are resolved to support Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia. The group is committed to holding President Putin accountable for this unprovoked war that has led Russia into worldwide isolation. They aim to prevent Russia from obtaining financing from leading financial institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
The press release also outlined how Zhdanova assisted a Russian client in transferring over $2.3 million into Western Europe via real estate purchases and a fraudulently opened investment account. This activity provided access to Western financial markets for Russian individuals usually prohibited due to international laws. As a consequence, all property held by Zhdanova in possession of U.S. persons has been blocked and must now be reported to OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control). Any financial institution engaging in transactions with these sanctioned entities risk potential sanctions or may face an enforcement plan.
