Deripaska called predictable refusal to lift US sanctions

Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska, despite the refusal of the American court to satisfy the claim to lift US Treasury sanctions against him, will continue to defend himself and those "who were made pawns in dirty political games against their will." This is stated in the comments of the entrepreneur, which was given to RBC by his representative.

Deripaska called the decision of the court "predictably absurd." According to the businessman, the court ignored the essence of the case, which is that the sanctions were imposed against him "on the basis of several tabloid articles" and "led to devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of people."

“From the court ruling, it eloquently follows that OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control; Office of Foreign Assets Control in the US Department of the Treasury. -) does not have to follow established procedures (and I must), can choose which evidence to disclose and which to withhold, and freely put into words the meaning that is convenient for him, ”said the businessman.

According to the businessman, "it's like playing poker blindfolded, while revealing your cards to opponents."

In April 2018, the US imposed sanctions on Deripaska and his UC Rusal and En+, banning US companies from doing business with them. In early 2019, the US Treasury agreed to lift restrictions against UC Rusal after Deripaska reduced his stake in controlling shareholder En+ from 70% to less than 45%.

A few months later, the US authorities justified the imposition of restrictions on the businessman by the fact that he acted "on behalf / in the interests" of high-ranking Russian officials (in particular, OFAC cited an article in The Nation that Deripaska bought an aluminum plant in Montenegro in 2005 "on on behalf of President Vladimir Putin”) and “works in the energy sector” of RUSSIA (he held control of the electricity company EuroSibEnergo). Deripaska called the OFAC report "hacky prepared" and "consisting of slander and speculation."

In March 2019, he filed a lawsuit against the US Treasury demanding the lifting of sanctions, according to FORBES, the businessman estimated his losses at $7.5 billion. On June 14, the court refused to side with Deripaska.