NEW: US slapping sanctions on key supporters of the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) - a designated white supremacist terror group - for boosting #Russia's efforts in #Ukraine
@USTreasury says RIM, supporters have been actively fundraising & recruiting
@USTreasury says RIM, supporters have been actively fundraising & recruiting
RIM " has sought to raise & move funds using the international financial system w/the intent of building a global network of violent groups that foster extremist views & subvert democratic processes" per @USTreasury UnderSec Brian Nelson
Specifically, "RIM & its supporters continue to exacerbate #Russia’s war of aggression in #Ukraine through their fundraising effort" per @USTreasury UnderSec Brian Nelson
The RIM supporters being sanctioned are:
- Stanislav Shevchuk, a Europe-based RIM rep who traveled to the US in 2017 "with the objective of establishing connections"
- Alexander Zhuchkovsky, based in Russia, who has been fundraising, recruiting on Russia's VK social media
- Stanislav Shevchuk, a Europe-based RIM rep who traveled to the US in 2017 "with the objective of establishing connections"
- Alexander Zhuchkovsky, based in Russia, who has been fundraising, recruiting on Russia's VK social media
Per @USTreasury, RIM's Zhuchkovsky, "has raised over 200 million rubles to purchase weapons & military equipment for RIM and other pro-#Russia|n fighters in the #Donbas in #Ukraine & has facilitated the travel of RIM fighters to the region"
Along with the @USTreasury sanctions vs RIM, @StateDept designated #Sweden national Anton Thulin for "continued pursuit of terrorist training, even after serving his prison sentence for his 2017 attacks in Sweden"
Per @StateDept, Swedish national Anton Thulin got paramilitary training from RIM in #StPetersburg #Russia in 2016 and, after serving a prison sentence in #Sweden, tried to get more training in #Poland
Poland expelled Thulin for posing a “serious, real, & current threat”
Poland expelled Thulin for posing a “serious, real, & current threat”
Some background on US designation of RIM - & 3 of its leaders - as globally designated terrorists in 2020 (via my colleague @rongxiang):
voanews.com/a/usa_us-desig…
voanews.com/a/usa_us-desig…
Back in January 2021, then @StateDept CT Coordinator @AmbNathanSales said RIM "shouldn't be the last" foreign white supremacist group to be designated as a terror organization...
voanews.com/a/usa_biden-ad…
voanews.com/a/usa_biden-ad…
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