Last week, the U.S. Treasury announced new measures against Yevgeni Prigozhin and his network in the Central African Republic. The Russian businessman, close to Vladimir Putin, is accused of interference in the 2016 elections in the United States. Since then, he has been on the American sanctions list. He is also accused of being the henchman of the Kremlin in Africa, through his links with the Wagner group of mercenaries. This time, the sanctions target three Russians and two companies involved in Prigozhin’s operations in the Central African Republic.
In a press release, the U.S. Treasury sanctions two mining companies operating in the Central African Republic belonging to Yevgeni Prigozhin.
The first, the Russian company M Finans, is engaged in the extraction of precious metals and provides private security services. Mr. Finans is said to be linked to a company owned by Yevgeni Prigozhin in St. Petersburg, accused of indirectly supporting “the exacerbation of political tensions and international divisions” on behalf of Russia.
The second company, Lobaye Invest, was founded in the Central African Republic in 2017. It specializes in the extraction of gold and diamonds, “a lucrative sector,” the press release points out.
These two companies are also accused of being associated with the activities of mercenaries of the Wagner group in Central Africa.
Of the three people targeted by the Treasury sanctions, two are Lobaye Invest executives. The last is simply cited as an employee of Prigozhin. All three are believed to be involved in the oligarch’s operations in the CAR since 2017.
Of the three people targeted by the Treasury sanctions, two are Lobaye Invest executives. The last is simply cited as an employee of Prigozhin. All three are believed to be involved in the oligarch’s operations in the CAR since 2017.
In its press release, the U.S. Treasury also announced sanctions against five other individuals and five companies in Russia and Finland. Accused of being linked this time with the FSB, the Russian intelligence service, to circumvent previous American sanctions.