WASHINGTON – The United States on Feb 24 issued Russia and cyber-related sanctions against four people and three entities, including some based in Russia and the United Arab Emirates, according to the Treasury Department website.
The entities and people were targeted “for their acquisition and distribution of cybertools harmful to US national security”, the Treasury Department said in a statement.
In a corresponding move, the US Department of State said one of the individuals and two of the entities hit with sanctions were also designated under the “Protecting American Intellectual Property Act in connection with theft of trade secrets from US persons”.
The sanctions are related to a US investigation into a former executive of a government contractor for selling trade secrets to a buyer in Russia – one of the entities hit with sanctions – for US$1.3 million (S$1.6 million). REUTERS