Russia's Rostec, AK-47 Producer Kalashnikov and Others Named In New US Sanctions List

The US Statement Department on Thursday turned over a list containing over a dozen Russian-defense and intelligence entities to Congress for implementation of new sanctions against Moscow.

The list obtained by The New York Times has named Russia's state-owned Russian Technologies State Corporation, Rostec, and its subsidiary RosoboronExport, the sole Russian state intermediary agency responsible for the import and export of defense arms, in addition to Russian aerospace holding company OPK Oboronprom.

Some of the other Russian aircraft manufacture companies Sukhoi and Tupolev, and the world-famous AK-47 producer Kalashnikov Concern JSC, are a potential target as well.

“Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has authorized the department to issue guidance to the public specifying the persons or entities that are part of or operating on behalf of the defense or intelligence sectors of the government of the Russian Federation,”State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said. “What that means is that Secretary Tillerson has signed off on this and it is now being held on Capitol Hill.”

The State Department is “currently informing Congress, key US industries stakeholders and our allies and partners” of the directive, she added.

The State Department's move forms part of the implementation of the ‘Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017'. In early August, President Donald Trump signed the act into a law, promising to provide a list of individuals and organizations that should be added to the sanctions list by October 1, because of their alleged role in efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

However, the State Departmentfailed to compile their list on time, pushing back the deadline by almost a month.