The United States includes the "Wagner Group" in the list of international criminal organizations

 

John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator of the US National Security Council, announced that the US included the Russian "Wagner Group" in the list of international criminal organizations. The corresponding decision will be published by the US Treasury Department, the official said during a press briefing on Friday.

"These actions indicate the transcontinental threat posed by Wagner, including through a range of serious criminal activities," he added.

Earlier this month, the US State Department announced that it was looking for mechanisms to further prosecute the Russian military "Wagner Group".

High-ranking representatives of the United States expressed concern about the activities of the Russian "Wagner Group", which participates in the battles in Donbas, recruits new fighters from among Russian prisoners and mercenaries in other countries, and which is accused of numerous war crimes in Ukraine and human rights violations in African countries.

On January 13, US State Department spokesman Ned Price commented on why the "Wagner Group" was not listed as a foreign terrorist organization. Price said the Wagner Group and its executive have already been placed on a number of sanctions lists.

The Wagner Group, its leader, Mr. Prigozhin, has been sanctioned under a number of [US government] powers. The point is that we are seeking all appropriate and appropriate powers to bring to justice those entities and organizations responsible for this brutal war against the Ukrainian people. If there are additional powers within which it would be permissible, appropriate and effective to apply sanctions against the Wagner Group or Prigozhin, we will evaluate that and apply them as we can," said Ned Price.