U.S. Justice Department Starts Task Force to Enforce Russian Sanctions against Russian Oligarchs and Announces the First Indictment for Violations of the Sanctions

On March 2, 2022, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the start of Task Force KleptoCapture to enforce sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeausres the U.S. has issued, in coordination with U.S. allies, in response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.  Task Force KleptoCapture will aim to enforce these actions that are designed to isolate Russia from global markets.  In particular, the U.S. restrictions target the crimes of Russian officials, government-aligned elites, and persons who help or conceal their unlawful conduct.  On March 3, 2022, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the first indictment for Russian sanctions violations.