The US Treasury has revealed that one of the 7 Russian officials targeted with sanctions is the head of the FSB security service, Alexander Bortnikov. It said the FSB was behind the attempt to murder the opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, with a nerve agent. (cont.) #bbcnews
US also tightening export controls on 14 firms involved in the production of biological and chemical agents. Also blacklisted are the federal prisons administrator, the head of the Kremlin's domestic policy directorate, and 2 dep defence ministers. Moscow has denounced the move
Washington's move was matched by the EU, which imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 4 top officials. With the FSB boss already targeted last October, Brussels today sanctioned the head of Russia's penal system, the prosecutor general and the commander of the national guard.
The BBC Brussels correspondent says these sanctions are a compromise between the Baltic states, which see Russia as a dangerous potential adversary, and countries - notably Germany - which rely on Russian gas imports.
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