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US imposes sanctions on companies that support Russia, including Belgian company on the list

The United States announced new sanctions on Wednesday against companies and individuals alleged to support Russia’s war effort. Among the hundreds of companies targeted, there is also a company based in Belgium, according to a statement from the American Ministry of Finance.

“Today’s sanctions are intended to further disrupt and weaken Russia’s war effort,” US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a news release.

The measures are primarily aimed at Russian defense companies. But the US is also targeting about 60 foreign companies and individuals accused of “helping Russia obtain key components for weapons production or defense programs,” the statement said.

Sixteen sanctioned companies are located in China or Hong Kong. The remainder concerns companies from the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Slovakia and therefore also Belgium.

The US department’s statement names the Uccle-based Groupe D’Investissement Financier (GIF), which “supplied machines and equipment to Sonatec”. In turn, Sonatec supplies material to Russian defense companies. The manager is also linked to the Russian military intelligence service GRU.

“Sonatec’s CEO and owner, Ruslan Viktorovich Labin, is the son of Belgium-based GIF owner Viktor Gennadjevich Labin, an alleged officer of the US-designated Russian Main Intelligence Service (GRU),” the US department said. of Finance.

Several Belgian media and the research site The Insider had already reported on the company’s Russian links a few months ago. Owner Viktor Labin then denied in a response to De Standaard that he has ties with the GROe intelligence service.