By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Related Press
NEW YORK (AP) – A US citizen has been arrested in London for his work as a tv producer for a Russian oligarch tied to Russian aggression in Ukraine over the previous eight years, significantly in Crimea, prosecutors introduced Thursday.
John Hanick, 71, was arrested in London on Feb. 3 in what US Legal professional Damian Williams described because the first-ever prison indictment charging a violation of US sanctions ensuing from Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
It was not instantly clear who would signify Hanick, assuming he’s efficiently extradited, in opposition to a sanctions cost that carries a possible penalty of as much as 20 years in jail.
Williams mentioned Hanick had labored for years for Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev, even after US sanctions positioned on Malofeyev banned US residents from working for or doing enterprise with him.
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“The Justice Division will do the whole lot it could actually to stamp out Russian aggression and interference,” Assistant Legal professional Basic Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Division’s Nationwide Safety Division mentioned in a launch.
Olsen mentioned that after Malofeyev was sanctioned for threatening Ukraine and offering monetary assist to the Donetsk separatist area, Hanick “knowingly selected to assist Malofeyev unfold his destabilizing messages by establishing, or trying to ascertain, TV networks in Russia, Bulgaria, and Greece, in violation of these sanctions. “
An indictment returned in Manhattan federal courtroom alleged that Malofeyev labored straight for and for the good thing about Malofeyev from no less than 2013 by way of no less than 2017.
Malofeyev was designated for sanctions in December 2014 by the Treasury Division’s Workplace of International Property Management, which he mentioned was one of many foremost sources of financing for Russians selling separatism in Crimea.
The indictment mentioned Hanick started in no less than 2013 to satisfy with Malofeyev concerning plans to create a brand new Russian cable tv information community.
Prosecutors mentioned Hanick additionally labored for Malofeyev to ascertain and run a Greek tv community and to accumulate a Bulgarian tv community.
Prosecutors mentioned that when FBI brokers interviewed Hanick about his work for Malofeyev, he made false statements.
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