WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States plans to sanction Russian oligarchs this week under a law targeting Moscow for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, in what could be the most aggressive move so far against Russia’s business elite.
The action, which could affect people close to President Vladimir Putin, reflects Washington’s desire to hold Russia to account for allegedly interfering in the election - which Moscow denies - even as U.S. President Donald Trump holds out hope for good relations with Putin.
Trump has faced fierce criticism for doing too little to punish Russia for the election meddling and other actions, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller is probing whether his campaign colluded with the Russians, an allegation the president denies.
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WNU Editor: The unwritten rule in Russia is that you can do business, voice your opposition to the government, etc. .... but you do not get involved in politics and you definitely do not get involved in directly opposing Putin. Many of these oligarchs may know Putin and members of his government, and some probably have benefited from these contacts .... but do they really support him .... I can say no. As to these new sanctions .... it is going to be interesting to see who is going to be sanctioned by the US Treasury Department. My hope is that those who deserve to be sanctioned are the ones who get hammered.
