Kaspersky Lab will curtail its activities in the United States due to sanctions

Kaspersky Lab said that due to new sanctions, the United States “does not see any prospects for doing business” in the country. The company will lay off 50 people; it is no longer possible to buy antivirus programs on its American website

Kaspersky Lab will begin to gradually reduce its activities in the United States from July 20, as it “does not see any prospects for doing business” in the country, the company said in a statement received by RBC.

“This decision was made as a result of a resolution of the US Department of Commerce banning the sale and distribution of Kaspersky Lab products in this market,” the company said.

A Laboratory spokesperson told The Register that the shutdown of operations includes staff reductions that will begin this week. The layoffs will affect about 50 employees in the United States. The BBC notes that the company's American website has already stopped selling anti-virus programs: a message appeared there that “purchase is not available for customers from the United States.”

In June, the US Department of Commerce announced that from July 20, Kaspersky Lab will not be able to enter into new agreements in the country, and from September 29, it will not be able to use and sell its software in the United States. In addition, the US Ministry of Finance imposed sanctions against 12 top managers, including executive director Andrei Tikhonov, director of business development Andrei Efremov, and deputy general director for strategy and economics Daniil Borshchev.

According to US authorities, the company cooperates with the Russian military and intelligence, and also supports the goals of the Russian government in the field of cyber intelligence. The Laboratory denies the accusations and considers them speculation, noting that the American authorities have not provided evidence. They called the sanctions unfounded, but added that they would not affect the stability of the company.

Kaspersky Lab has been operating in the United States for almost 20 years. At the end of June, the company announced that it would try to maintain contacts with American partners.