The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions against a Russian citizen who, according to them, helped Russian oligarchs and cybercriminals bypass US sanctions using cryptocurrency
According to the American regulator, 37-year-old Ekaterina Zhdanova used digital currencies to carry out large international transactions, including on the Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, against which the United States imposed sanctions last year.
“Thanks to intermediaries like Zhdanova, Russian elites, cybercriminals extorting money through special programs and other scammers have tried to evade international and U.S. sanctions by using virtual currencies,” said Brian Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Counterterrorism and Financial Intelligence.
According to representatives of the US Treasury, Zhdanova helped a certain Russian oligarch transfer more than $100 million to the United Arab Emirates. In addition, she provided clients with tax residency, passports and bank accounts.
