U.S. Department of the Treasury

(Archived Content)​Sanctions Target 12 Russian Individuals Involved in the Detention, Abuse, or Death of Sergei Magnitsky, the Criminal Conspiracy Uncovered by Magnitsky, or Gross Human Rights Violations against Persons Seeking to Expose Russian Government Illegal Activity *     WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today sanctioned 12 Russian individuals pursuant to the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012. This legislation requires that sanctions be imposed on individuals determined, based on credible information, to be responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky; who have participated in efforts to conceal the legal liability for, or who have financially benefited from the detention, abuse, or death of Magnitsky; or were involved in the criminal conspiracy uncovered by Magnitsky. This legislation also requires that sanctions be imposed on individuals determined to be responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals seeking to expose illegal activity carried out by officials of the Russian Federation government, or seeking to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote internationally recognized human rights and freedoms in Russia.   Magnitsky died on November 16, 2009, at the age of 37, in Matrosskaya Tishina Prison in Moscow, Russia where he was detained after uncovering fraud involving Russian tax officials.   Ten individuals were designated because of their involvement with the detention, abuse, or death of Magnitsky or their involvement in the criminal conspiracy uncovered by Magnitsky. Two individuals were designated because they were responsible for gross human rights violations against persons seeking to expose illegal activity carried out by Russian government officials or to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote internationally recognized human rights.* Individuals Associated with the Detention, Abuse, or Death of Magnitsky** Prison Officials * * Dr. Larisa Litvinova is a doctor and the head of the Butyrka Detention Center Hospital. Litvinova withheld appropriate medical care for Magnitsky while he was being held at the pre-trial detention center.** Dr. Dmitry Kratov** is the former chief medical officer of the Butyrka Detention Center Hospital where Magnitsky was held. Kratov withheld appropriate medical care for Magnitsky while he was being held at the pre-trial detention center.** Dr. Alexandra Gauss** is a surgeon at the Matrosskaya Tishina Detention Center.Gauss withheld appropriate medical care for Magnitsky while he was being held at the pre-trial detention center.** Fikret Tagiyev** is the head of the Matrosskaya Tishina Detention Center.Tagiyev participated in efforts to conceal the legal liability for the detention, abuse, and death of Magnitsky.   Judiciary Officials Igor Alisov is a judge in the Moscow municipal court system and oversaw the posthumous trial of Magnitsky.Alisov participated in efforts to conceal the legal liability for the detention, abuse, and death of Magnitsky.   Law Enforcement Officials   Andrei Krechetov is an investigator in the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and is a subordinate of Artem Kuznetsov, who was previously designated in April 2013 for his involvement in Magnitsky’s arrest and the criminal conspiracy uncovered by Magnitsky. Krechetov participated in Magnitsky’s arrest.   Co-conspirators in the tax fraud Viktor Markelov confessed to participating in the criminal conspiracy uncovered by Magnitsky. He fraudulently re-registered three subsidiaries of Hermitage Capital in the tax fraud scheme uncovered by Magnitsky. Dmitry Klyuev** is alleged to have masterminded the criminal conspiracy uncovered by Magnitsky. Klyuev owned the now liquidated Universal Savings Bank (USB) through which approximately USD 97 million from the fraudulent tax returns was laundered.** Vladlen Stepanov** is a businessman and the ex-husband of Olga Stepanova, the former head of a Moscow tax office who approved the fraudulent tax returns. Treasury designated Stepanova in April 2013 for her involvement in the criminal conspiracy uncovered by Magnitsky.** Vyachelsav Khlebnikov** is a businessman with a criminal record.Khlebnikov was convicted of participating in the tax fraud uncovered by Magnitsky.** Individuals Responsible for Gross Violations of Internationally Recognized Human Rights Umar Sugaipov** participated in the extrajudicial killing of Umar Israilov, who had worked to expose wrongdoing by Russian government officials.** Musa Vakhayev** participated with Kazbek Dukuzov in the extrajudicial killing of journalist Paul Klebnikov, who was working to expose illegal activity carried out by officials of the Russian government. Treasury designated Dukuzov in April 2013 for his role in the extrajudicial killing of Klebnikov. These individuals have been placed on the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. All property and interests in property in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons in which the individuals designated today have an interest are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.** Identifying Information** Name:             Larisa Anatolievna LITVINOVA DOB:              November 18, 1963   Name:              Dmitry Borisovich KRATOV DOB:              July 16, 1964   Name:              Alexandra Viktorovna GAUS AKA:              Alexandra GAUSS DOB:              March 29, 1975   Name:              Fikret TAGIYEV AKA:              Fikhret TAGIYEV AKA:              Fikhret Gabdulla Ogly TAGIEV        DOB:              April 3, 1962   Name:             Igor Borisovich ALISOV DOB:              March 11, 1968   Name:             Viktor Aleksandrovich MARKELOV DOB:              December 15, 1967 POB:               Leninskoye village, Uzgenskiy District, Oshkaya region of the Kirghiz SSR   Name:              Dmitry Vladislavovich KLYUEV AKA:              Dmitriy KLYUYEV DOB:              August 10, 1967 Name:              Vladlen Yurievich STEPANOV DOB:              July 17, 1962   Name:              Vyacheslav Georgievich KHLEBNIKOV AKA:              Viacheslav KHLEBNIKOV DOB:              July 9, 1967   Name:              Andrei Alexandrovich KRECHETOV DOB:              September 22, 1981   Name:              Umar SUGAIPOV DOB:               April 17, 1966                        POB:               Chechen Republic, Russia   Name:              Musa VAKHAYEV DOB:              1964    POB:               Urus-Martan, Chechen Republic, Russia   ###