Russia Says US Should Stop Playing 'Geopolitical Games'

Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, has claimed the sanctions imposed by the United States on a Russian businessman and bank are unfair and said Moscow did not understand why the measures were being implemented at a time of increasing tension — after Turkey downed a Russian fighter jet.

Ryabkov told RIA that Washington should should stop playing "geopolitical games" after the U.S. Treasury penalization.

"It is clear that this is a new, complicated moment in relations," Sergei Ryabkov continued.

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Yesterday, the U.S. sanctioned World Chess Federation president, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov of Russia, as he was “materially assisting and acting for or on behalf of the Government of Syria, Central Bank of Syria,” according to a U.S. Department of Treasury statement.

Ilyumzhinov, a wealthy businessman and former head of Russia’s Republic of Kalmykia, is thought to have been involved in financial transactions with Syrian businessperson Mudalal Khuri since 1997.

Khuri, who has also been sanctioned by the U.S., is said to be a long-term associate of the government of President Bashar Assad, while the U.S. say he has assisted and acted on behalf of the government and its central bank when dealing with Russia.

Syrian President Bashar Assad (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Homs, Syria Oct. 21, 2015 | Photo: Reuters

In addition, the Russian Financial Alliance Bank, co-owned by Ilyumzhinov and Khuri, was also on Washington’s list of companies and individuals to be sanctioned.

As a result of the measures against the enlisted individuals and their companies, the U.S. ordered their assets frozen while American citizens are prohibited from engaging in business transactions with them.

Ilyumzhinov was defiant in his response by saying he wouldn’t cancel his trip to the U.S. on Monday. His visit is to decide which U.S. city will host the Chess World Championships in 2016.

“If they have any questions, I’m eager to answer them. I’m ready to meet with U.S. Department of the Treasury representatives in New York or Washington," he said.

The U.S. announced Wednesday in total it will freeze the assets of four people and six entities, including businessman George Haswani, who it said "serves as a middleman" for oil purchases by the Syrian government from the Islamic State group.

"The United States will continue targeting the finances of all those enabling Assad to continue inflicting violence on the Syrian people" said Adam J. Szubin, acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

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