The United States has added Artyom Chaika, the son of Russian Prosecutor General Yury Chaika, to its list of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.
The U.S. introduced the Magnitsky Act in 2012 to sanction Russian individuals linked to the death of anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in police custody. Since then, the U.S. Congress has enacted the Global Magnitsky Act to sanction foreign persons responsible for human rights abuses or significant corruption.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued his latest executive order on Thursday, blocking the property of Artyom Chaika, as well as 12 other persons "involved in serious human rights abuses and corruption," according to a statement on the U.S. Treasury Department site.
The Treasury Department said that Artyom Chaika "has leveraged his father’s position and ability to award his subordinates to unfairly win state-owned assets and contracts and put pressure on business competitors."
The statement detailed allegations of corruption and coercion in a 2014 highway construction project and a bid on a state-owned stone and gravel company.
Artyom Chaika made headlines after anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny released a viral video investigation that claimed Chaika was involved in the expropriation of a shipping company in the Far East whose director was allegedly strangled.
The investigation said that Artyom Chaika and his brother Igor, who have amassed businesses and real estate worth millions of dollars, enjoyed the protection of prosecutors.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
