US puts entire Russian government on 'Kremlin List'

Illustration photo: Reuters

The US Treasury Department's "Kremlin List" has a total of 210 names published, including 114 senior officials and heads of state-owned companies, with 96 Russian businessmen.

In the section listing political figures, the list is notable for the top names of the Russian government such as Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, head of the presidential office Anton Vaino, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin; as well as all of Mr. Putin's ministers, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other senior officials.

In addition, many leaders of leading Russian enterprises, focusing on the fields of energy, fuel, transportation...

Those named on the list were reportedly selected on the basis of their official positions in the case of senior political figures, or a net worth of $1 billion or more in the case of “oligarchs.”

The document is part of a sanctions bill against Russia signed by US President Donald Trump in August in retaliation for alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, although no final conclusions have been reached in US investigations.

However, according to the document, this is not a sanctions list for the individuals or entities named. Nor does it create any barriers, bans, or restrictions on the above people from the United States or abroad.

Commenting on the above list, Russian Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov emphasized that this almost means a breakdown in bilateral relations.

“The two countries have official relations, but the sanctions list that includes almost the entire leadership of our country means that those relations will automatically break down,” Mr. Dzhabarov said.