The US Department of the Treasury has recently added several Russian IT companies to its sanctions list. Among them are the public joint stock company Astra Group, a number of companies within the IBS group, and approximately 30 other tech firms. These companies have been targeted for their work in the technological sector of the Russian economy, according to reports by Interfax.
One of the reasons cited for the inclusion of Astra Group in the sanctions list is its involvement in developing an operating system that is relied upon by the Russian defense industry and armed forces. Similarly, the IBS group of companies has also been added to the SDN List due to its participation in various projects, including the digitalization efforts of the Rostec state corporation and the creation of software solutions for government agencies.
The IBS group had previously faced indirect sanctions when its founder and beneficiary, Anatoly Karachinsky, was included in the SDN List in April 2022 as a member of the board of directors of Otkritie Bank. As a result, he sold his stake in IBS to the group’s operational top management. This latest mass inclusion of Russian IT companies in the sanctions list follows a similar move in 2022 when around 30 tech firms associated with microelectronics development and production were also targeted.