© Reuters
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In a letter to the US parliament, President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency to remove an “unusual and extreme” threat to Russia’s national security and economy.
The text is published on the White House website and in practice is an explanation for congressmen and senators, as well as an instruction to the government on how to act effectively on this issue. This primarily affects the State Department, the Ministries of Finance and the Ministry of Justice.
One of the innovations is that the measures will take effect immediately – the notification of the person concerned before the sanction is announced is removed, because the speed of asset transfer is so high today that in most cases there is no effect from Washington’s actions.
It also lists what Russia is doing to impose such a decision by the president:
– undermining the holding of free and fair democratic elections in the United States
– involvement in malicious cyber activity against the United States and its allies
– encouraging and using transnational corruption to influence other governments
– carrying out extraterritorial activities against dissidents and journalists
– undermining security in countries and areas important to US national security
– violation of the established principles of international law, including respect for the territorial integrity of states.
The letter contains a detailed list of who and what actions will be subject to sanctions, including the freezing of assets in the United States, a ban on doing business with him and refusing to be allowed on American territory. Each case is discussed between the three mentioned ministries.
Among the listed activities subject to sanctions is the assistance of an already sanctioned person, including with digital currencies or some kind of real assets; killing or inflicting bodily harm on an American or a citizen of an ally or partner of the United States; undermining the peace, security, political stability, or territorial integrity of the United States or its ally or partner.
The explanation of what is meant by “government of the Russian Federation” states that it is not only the Council of Ministers, but also any political unit, agency or tool of state policy, including the central bank, as well as any individual who is subordinate, controlled or directed by the government or acting in its favor or on its behalf.
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