A police officer patrols a deserted Red Square during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Valery Sharifulin
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration announced a new task force Wednesday that will enforce sweeping U.S. and allied sanctions imposed on Russian officials and oligarchs that have helped finance President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine.
The new task force, comprised of interagency law enforcement officers from the FBI, Marshals Service, IRS, Postal Inspection, Homeland Security Investigations and Secret Service, will target “the crimes of Russian officials, government-aligned elites, and those who aid or conceal their unlawful conduct.”
The task force will use the most cutting-edge law enforcement tools at its disposable, including cryptocurrency tracing, to track down and prosecute those who violate the sanctions and seize assets.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who will oversee the new task force, said in a statement, “Oligarchs be warned: we will use every tool to freeze and seize your criminal proceeds.”
Teased by President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, the new Department of Justice task force, dubbed Task Force KleptoCapture, will deprive Russian oligarchs of assets and other tools used to evade sanctions.
“The U.S. Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs,” Biden said. “We are coming for your ill-begotten gains,” Biden added.
The task force is yet another approach the Biden administration has taken in lockstep with transatlantic allies to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and complicit Russian elites to account.
“The Justice Department will use all of its authorities to seize the assets of individuals and entities who violate these sanctions,” wrote Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement announcing the new unit.
“We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to investigate, arrest and prosecute those whose criminal acts enable the Russian government to continue this unjust war,” Garland added.
The State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the new task force with his Ukrainian counterpart on Wednesday.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
