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US Treasury Sanctions Alleged Russian Disinformation Network

VOA News

   The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions Monday against
   associates and entities affiliated with Ukrainian politician Andrii
   Derkach, who they say operates a Russian-backed foreign influence
   network that attempted to influence the 2020 U.S. presidential
   election.

   The individuals sanctioned are former Ukrainian government officials
   Konstantin Kulyk, Oleksandr Onyshchenko, Andriy Telizhenko, and current
   Ukrainian member of Parliament Oleksandr Dubinsky.

   The Treasury Department said Kulyk "formed an alliance with Derkach to
   spread false accusations of international corruption."

   It added that Onyshchenko, who is a fugitive from Ukrainian justice on
   corruption charges, "provided edited audiotape copies of purported
   audio recordings of conversations between former Ukrainian and U.S.
   officials, which Derkach released between May and July 2020 to
   discredit U.S. officials and influence the U.S. elections."

   The Treasury said Telizhenko arranged meetings between unnamed "U.S.
   persons" and Derkach to "propagate false claims concerning corruption
   in Ukraine."

   Dubinsky joined Derkach in press conferences "designed to perpetuate
   these and other false narratives and denigrate U.S. presidential
   candidates and their families," Treasury said, a reference to
   President-elect Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

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