Elections are a cornerstone of the democratic system of government. Attempts to target the U.S. electoral system are an attack on the United States democratic values. It is therefore no surprise that the U.S. government takes any attempt to undermine or manipulate the American electoral system seriously.
“The Russian Federation has demonstrated determination in its attempts to undermine the democratic processes and institutions essential to the functioning of our democracy and that of other countries,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“In response, the United States is sanctioning two individuals and four entities that support the Kremlin’s global malign influence operations and election interference activities.”
Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, president and founder of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, uses his position and various companies to promote Russia’s disinformation agenda and has worked with Russia’s intelligence services to support organizations they believed would create socio-political disturbances in the United States.
He is also the President and owner of Ionov Transkontinental and domain registrant of the website STOP-Imperialism.
Ionov was designated pursuant to Executive Order 14024 for having acted for or on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia and Ionov Transkontinental were designated under Executive Order 14024 for being owned or controlled by Ionov. STOP-Imperialism was also designated under Executive Order 14024 for having acted on behalf of Ionov.
Natalya Valeryevna Burlinova is the founder and president of the Center for Support and Development of Public Initiative Creative Diplomacy, also known as PICREADI or Creative Diplomacy. Both Burlinova and PICREADI are directly funded and directed by Russia’s intelligence services, which also track the career paths and positions of participants in PICREADI-sponsored events.
Burlinova was designated pursuant to Executive Order 14024 for having acted on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation.
PICREADI was designated pursuant to Executive Order 14024 for having acted on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation, and for being owned by Burlinova.
As a result of these designations, all property under U.S. jurisdiction in which these individuals and entities have at least a 50 percent interest, is blocked.
“The Kremlin has repeatedly sought to threaten and undermine our democratic processes and institutions,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. “The United States will continue our extensive work to counter these efforts and safeguard our democracy from Russia’s interference.”
U.S. Sanctions Russia for Interference in U.S. Elections
The United States is sanctioning two individuals and four entities that support the Kremlin’s global malign influence operations and election interference activities.
