Russia Demands U.S. Explanation Over Blacklisted Singer

[Purveyor]

By Alexei Anishchuk

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s foreign ministry asked the United States on Thursday to explain why it had imposed sanctions on a well-known singer and supporter of President Vladimir Putin, calling the move “unacceptable”.

The U.S. Treasury Department this week named Grigory Lepsveridze as one of six people it said were linked to a “Eurasian crime syndicate” called the Brothers’ Circle.

The Treasury added him to its list of blacklisted people, meaning U.S. citizens were barred from doing business with him, and any assets he had in the United States were frozen.

Lepsveridze, who performs under the stage-name Grigory Leps, dismissed the allegation.

Russia’s foreign ministry said Washington’s accusation broke “the fundamental principle of presumption of innocence”.

MORE...

http://www.euronews.com/newswires/2188896-russia-demands-us-explanation-over-blacklisted-singer/

[MADem]

1. Pootie Poot, whining over due process?

Tell that to the Pussy Riot ladies...!

The U.S. Treasury said the six people had acted on behalf of two key members of the Brothers’ Circle, which it described as a transnational criminal organisation, a label shared with Japan’s Yakuza and Mexico’s Los Zetas syndicates.

“Grigory Lepsveridze couriers money on behalf of (Brothers’ Circle member) Vladislav Leontyev,” the Treasury said in a statement. A Treasury spokesman confirmed it was referring to the singer. ....... The U.S. Treasury statement said The Brothers’ Circle was made up of leading members of several criminal groups, most of them based in former Soviet countries.

“The Brothers’ Circle serves as a coordinating body for several criminal networks, mediates disputes between individual criminal networks, and directs member criminal activity globally,” the Treasury added.....

Gee, Pootie should ask his pal Ed Snowden what he knows about that?

[madrchsod]

3. +1

[Cali_Democrat]

2. LOL!

[longship]

4. Tell us about Pussy Riot, Putin. nt

[ck4829]

5. Did the people who prosecute Sergei Magnitsky consider presumption of innocence?

[SidDithers]

6. I think the explanation is that...

he is one of six people linked to a “Eurasian crime syndicate” called the Brothers’ Circle.



Sid