The US Department of the Treasury has recently announced that Astra Group, several companies from the IBS group, and around 30 other Russian IT companies have been added to the sanctions list. These companies were targeted due to their involvement in the technological sector of the Russian economy, according to Interfax.
The Astra Group was specifically called out for its part in developing an operating system that is heavily relied upon by the Russian defense industry and armed forces. Similarly, the IBS group of companies found themselves on the SDN List due to their roles in projects like digitizing the Rostec state corporation and creating software solutions for government agencies.
In 2022, approximately 30 Russian companies linked to microelectronics were also added to the SDN List. Additionally, Anatoly Karachinsky, the founder and beneficiary of the IBS group, was previously included in the SDN List for serving on the board of directors at Otkritie Bank in April 2022 – prompting him to sell his stake in IBS to the group’s management as reported by Interfax. This is not a new development as Russia has faced sanctions from various countries over its involvement in Ukraine conflict and other political issues.