The President's Sanctions on Russia:

[bvar22]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/17/statement-president-ukraine

"First, as authorized by the executive order I signed two weeks ago, we are imposing sanctions on specific individuals responsible for undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity and government of Ukraine. We’re making it clear that there are consequences for their actions."

Does anybody have any idea WHO these people are,
and WHAT these "sanctions" mean?

"Second, I have signed a new executive order that expands the scope of our sanctions. As an initial step, I’m authorizing sanctions on Russian officials -- entities operating in the arms sector in Russia and individuals who provide material support to senior officials of the Russian government. And if Russia continues to interfere in Ukraine, we stand ready to impose further sanctions."

Again, WHO and WHAT does this mean?

Third, we’re continuing our close consultations with our European partners, who today in Brussels moved ahead with their own sanctions against Russia. Tonight, Vice President Biden departs for Europe, where he will meet with the leaders of our NATO allies -- Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. And I’ll be traveling to Europe next week. Our message will be clear. As NATO allies, we have a solemn commitment to our collective defense, and we will uphold this commitment.

That isn't too difficult to understand. Don't forget Poland.


I have heard US Presidents announce "Sanctions" against other countries for over 50 years.
This is the first time I can remember sanctions directed at individuals living in these countries.


I fully support President's Obama's Peaceful, Calculated, Measured, non-military approach to resolving the situation in the Ukraine, but found the first two "sanctions on unnamed individuals" to be unusual.
Hopefully, someone here can explain them.

[1000words]

1. What are the odds they are oil barons?

[bvar22]

3. That would be interesting.

I have no idea,
though have believed that the Oil Biz transcended mere National Boundaries a few decades ago.

[geek tragedy]

2. the individuals are:

•Vladislav Surkov: Surkov is being sanctioned for his status as a Presidential Aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
•Sergey Glazyev: Glazyev is being sanctioned for his status as a Presidential Adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
•Leonid Slutsky: Slutsky is being sanctioned for his status as a State Duma deputy, where he is Chairman of the Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration, and Relations with Compatriots.
•Andrei Klishas: Klishas is being sanctioned for his status as a Member of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and as Chairman of the Federation Council Committee of Constitutional Law, Judicial, and Legal Affairs, and the Development of Civil Society.
•Valentina Matviyenko: Matviyenko is being sanctioned for her status as Head of the Federation Council
•Dmitry Rogozin: Rogozin is being sanctioned for his status as the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.
•Yelena Mizulina: Mizulina is being sanctioned for her status as a State Duma Deputy.
•Sergey Aksyonov: Aksyonov is being designated for threatening the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for undermining Ukraine’s democratic institutions and processes. Aksyonov claims to be the Prime Minister of Crimea and has rejected the authority of the legitimate government in Kyiv.
•Vladimir Konstantinov: Konstantinov is being designated for threatening the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for undermining Ukraine’s democratic institutions and processes. Konstantinov is the speaker of the Crimean parliament, which on March 11, 2014, declared independence from Ukraine.
•Viktor Medvedchuk: Medvedchuk, leader of Ukrainian Choice, is being designated for threatening the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for undermining Ukraine’s democratic institutions and processes. He is also being designated because he has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support to Yanukovych and because he is a leader of an entity that has, or whose members have, engaged in actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in Ukraine and actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine.
•Viktor Yanukovych: Former Ukrainian President Yanukovych is being designated for threatening the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for undermining Ukraine’s democratic institutions and processes. After abandoning Kyiv and ultimately fleeing to Russia, Viktor Yanukovych called upon Russian President Vladimir Putin to send Russian troops into Ukraine.

[bvar22]

4. Thanks for the list of names.

Do you have any idea what being sanctioned involves?

While I support efforts to promote free elections anywhere,
I don't know if the USA has enough Moral High Ground to be performing the duties of a Justice Department in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.

Can we trust our own "Intelligence" agencies and our government to NOT get involved in King Making in these matters?

I certainly don't have the answers.

[geek tragedy]

5. any assets held in the US are frozen, ban on travel to the US, no economic transactions

with entities based in the US.

pretty meaningless for these guys, who bank with China if they bank outside of Russia

there's also talk that it would prevent them from converting their cash to dollars, but I'm not sure how that works--