While the United States has signaled to Russia that sanctions could be lifted if meaningful progress is made toward a peaceful resolution in Ukraine, behind the scenes, officials at the US Treasury Department are actively compiling dossiers on Russian financial criminals.
Sanctions remain a key tool for Washington to exert pressure on the Kremlin, while for Moscow, their removal is crucial to preventing economic collapse, which could lead to political instability and even threaten Putin’s regime. However, there is currently no discussion of a complete lifting of US sanctions.
Shifting Focus: Targeting Financial Crime Networks
Until recently, US sanctions primarily targeted major Russian players, a strategy designed to hit Putin’s inner circle and disrupt the Russian economy. While effective, this approach proved slow, as the Kremlin continuously found ways to adapt and bypass restrictions.
As a result, thousands of Russian-backed criminal networks operating worldwide—engaged in money laundering, financial fraud, and sanctions evasion—remained largely unchecked. These groups have funneled tens of billions of dollars into Russia’s economy, indirectly financing the war against Ukraine.
However, this trend is shifting. In December 2024, the US Treasury took action against the TGR Group, an international network facilitating Russian sanctions evasion. The group, controlled by Ukrainian citizen George Rossi, provided Russian clients with illicit services such as money laundering, cryptocurrency transactions, and concealing financial origins.
Sanctions were imposed on key figures within the TGR Group, including:
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George Rossi (Ukraine)
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Elena Chirkinyan (Russia)
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Hadji Murad Magomedov (Russia)
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Nikita Krasnov (Russia)
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Andreis Bradens (Latvia)
Additionally, multiple companies tied to the network were blacklisted, including:
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TGR Partners (Russia)
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TGR Corporate Concierge (UK)
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TGR DWC-LLC (UAE)
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Siam Expert (Thailand)
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Pullman Global Solutions (USA)
According to Acting Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Bradley Smith, Russian elites used TGR Group’s services—particularly US-dollar-backed stablecoins—to bypass international restrictions, enriching both themselves and the Kremlin.
Next Target: BLESAVARIS GROUP?
TGR Group may have been a mid-level player, but its sanctioning signals a broader crackdown on Russian-linked financial crime. Sources indicate that the BLESAVARIS GROUP may be the next target.
BLESAVARIS GROUP is a networked financial company headquartered in Dubai, with operations in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Armenia, Austria, and Ukraine. Aside from Ukraine, these countries have become key hubs for Russian sanctions evasion. Media reports and social media sources suggest the group engages in financial fraud, particularly through cryptocurrency transactions.
Two key figures reportedly tie the group to Russian intelligence services:
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Anton Adzhiev – Founder of BLESAVARIS GROUP, born in Moscow. Between 1999 and 2023, he conducted business in Russia, particularly in Chechnya, where he allegedly had close ties to the FSB (Russia’s Federal Security Service). In 2016, he relocated to Ukraine, obtained Ukrainian citizenship, and became linked to various financial fraud schemes.
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Valeriy Mazurov – Head of the Belarusian branch of BLESAVARIS GROUP. A dual citizen of Belarus and Russia, he previously held senior positions in Belarus’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. Reports suggest he was recruited by the FSB in 2017 and now facilitates Russian sanctions evasion through cryptocurrency transactions in Belarus, protected from prosecution by local authorities.
A Broader Crackdown on Financial Crime
Investigations into financial crime groups like BLESAVARIS GROUP are ongoing. Once completed, the US Treasury could unveil a targeted sanctions list at any time, potentially blacklisting Adzhiev, Mazurov, and their network.
This crackdown underscores Washington’s long-term commitment to combating international financial crime, particularly when it threatens US national interests. Regardless of political leadership, the US stance against Russian financial corruption appears firm and unwavering.
