Washington .- The Government of the United States announced on Wednesday the imposition of economic sanctions against three Bulgarian citizens and their business network for their alleged links with corruption. Among those sanctioned is the oligarch Vasil Bozhkov, one of bulgaria’s richest people and whom the US Treasury Department accuses of trying to create a channel for Russia’s political leaders to influence the Bulgarian government.
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Bozhkov currently lives in Dubai and is on the run from Bulgaria, where he is accused of tax crimes and corruption. The other two people sanctioned by the Treasury Department are businessman and former parliamentarian Delyan Peevski and official Ilko Zhelyazkov, who the United States said are responsible for bribery. Read more: Free beer for everyone! This is how the U.S. promotes Covid-19 vaccinationThe Treasury also sanctioned 64 companies belonging to Bozhkov and Peevski.According to the United States, wednesday’s is “the largest action directed against corruption to date” and maintained that it “demonstrates the continuous effort of the Treasury Department to hold accountable those involved in corruption.” Treasury economic sanctions prohibit affected individuals and businesses from entering the U.S. financial system, freeze any assets they may have in the United States, and prohibit Americans from doing business with them. In parallel to the Treasury sanctions, the State Department blacklisted Peevsky and Zhelyazkov, as well as officials Alexander Manolev, Petar Haralampiev and Krasimir Tomov, also for acts of corruption. Read more: Donald Trump closes his blog less than a month after launching itThese people, as well as their immediate family members, are now banned from entering the United States.Although it is common for the US to impose sanctions against foreign individuals, officials, companies and entities around the world, it is not the case that the person affected is a member of the European Union , a key ally of Washington.
