US blacklists Putin money-manager, luxury yacht brokerage for Russian elite

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In the latest sanctions, the United States on Thursday (June 2) targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin's "money manager", a Monaco-based company that provides luxury yachts. The move has been considered a step up in putting pressure on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement, the White House as quoted by the news agency, revealed, "The United States, alongside over 30 partners around the world, has imposed unprecedented sanctions and export".

"...to hold President Putin to account for his war against Ukraine, restrict Russia’s access to critical technology it needs to fund its war machine," the statement added.

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US President Joe Biden, in his State of the Union address in March, said the United States would work to seize the yachts, luxury apartments and private jets of wealthy Russians with ties to Putin.

The Biden administration also added Sergei Roldugin, who is a cellist and conductor already under European Union sanctions, for his alleged links to Putin.

The Russian President had defended Roldugin after he was named in the "Panama Papers" leaks in 2016.

The US Treasury Department identified two vessels, the Russian-flagged Graceful and the Cayman Islands-flagged Olympia. The authorities stated that Putin has an interest in the property.

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