The Czech government extends the national list of sanctions to a pair linked to the Russian GRU

On April 2, this year, the Czech government added Belarusian writer Natalia Sudliankova and Russian GRU officer Alexey Slawrov to the national sanctioning list. Prime Minister Petr Fiala informed about this. According to abroad Minister Jan Lipawski, Sudliankov is simply a key associate of the Russian military intelligence group GRU and has worked for respective Russian organizations in the Czech Republic for many years.

Sudliankova has received asylum in the Czech Republic in the past and will now gotta leave the country. According to the findings of the Czech safety Information Service (BIS), it carried out tasks for the GRU in the Czech Republic, while Slawrov led it from Moscow. “They are at risk, and even a threat to the safety of our country and it is appropriate that we do so,” said Petr Fiala, while praisingBIS work.

Head of the Czech MFA Lipavský said that in addition to the GRU, Sudliankov worked for the keptby the Russian State Fund for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Nationals surviving Behind the Border and the Immortal Regiment of Russia. "Her business was financed straight from Russia. In fresh years, she has been paid tens of thousands of euros in cryptocurrency," he said. GRU organized heralso print respective articles in Czech media. She besides acted on behalf of Russian oligarch Aliszer Usmanov, which is anotherreason for being listed, said Lipavský.

“ This is part of the Russian Federation’s systematic efforts against democratic countries, ” said the head of the Czech Ministry of abroad Affairs, adding: “These are the cases that should be prosecuted as crimes of illegal activity in behalf of a abroad power. In specified a case, we would be talking not only about expulsion, but about criminal liability," he said, adding thatSudliankova will now be required to leave the country within 30 days. The decision shall enter into force immediately.

The counterintelligence agency on network X reported that Sudliankova had worked with Rosatom, who was not included in the tender for the construction of the fresh Dukovana atomic power plant blocks. "This is simply a successful operation of our services. Now, thanks to the changes in the legislative environment, we were able to disclose all the essential information without compromising the crucial interests of the service, specified as resource conservation," said BIS manager Michal Koudelka.

According to Lipavski Sudliankov, she received asylum in 2003 "We have reliable information that confirms that she was instructed by a GRU agent". They mainly communicated with each another via various electronic means, and the evidence includes the payment links in question, added the Minister. "The decision on sanctions is not carried out in the form of criminal proceedings", he noted, stating that there is adequate material to make it clear that the continuation of akin actions should be prevented.

So far there have been 7 people and 2 companies on the Czech sanction list. These are Patriarch Cyril, boy of Russian businessman Vladimir Evtushenko Felix, son-in-law of Russian arms dealer Boris Obnosov Rostislav Zorikov and his wife Olga, Russian asset management company Goshagranstvennost’ and media platform Voice of Europe.

In late January, the government extended the list to include 3 Georgian MMA representatives: Zviada Kharazishvili, manager of the peculiar Tasks Department, Mirza Kezevadze, his deputy, and Vazha Siraga, manager of the riot police department. They wereadded to the list due to their function in the brutal suppression of last year's protests in Georgia.

Entry in the list of sanctions means that those persons are prohibited from entering and staying in the Czech Republic, cannot carry out any financial transactions through Czech entities and their assets in the country are frozen by the Financial Analysis Office. Placing on the national sanction list is possible thanks to the alleged Magnitski Act.

Source: CTK

BIS improvement – survey Bulletin