US Treasury get away Prohibition of “all normal operations necessary for receiving or transmitting telecommunications”. Sanctions on technologies, software and hardware (processors and other components) required to communicate over the Internet have also been lifted. Now goods can be exported, re-exported, sold and delivered directly or indirectly to Russia from the USA itself or to American citizens, no matter what country they are in.
As examples of technologies that can be imported into the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Finance cited instant messaging, photo, film and document services, video conferencing services, chats and e-mail, social networks, web browsing and blogging, web hosting and registration services. . domain names.
In particular, the document clarifies that it is still prohibited to open or maintain correspondent or trading accounts “for or on behalf of” Russian financial institutions that are subject to sanctions. Also, you cannot write money from accounts of the Bank of Russia, the National Wealth Fund, and the Ministry of Finance located in the United States.
After the start of sanctions, many large IT companies left the Russian market, including Microsoft, Intel and Qualcomm. American Cogent, one of the largest backbone providers, has disconnected Russian operators from their networks.
In March, the Russian government instructed all government websites and services to switch to the Russian domain name system and abandon foreign hosting to protect resources from cyberattacks and the possibility of external disconnection. The Ministry of Digital Development has assured that they are prepared for different scenarios, but the authorities do not plan to separate Russia from the global Internet.
Information Culture Director Ivan Begtin also noted that abroad, they can cut off Russia from the global Internet if they want. “For example, it is possible to separate the .ru domain zone or cut off Internet access for Russians at the equipment level of backbone providers,” he said. Never before in history have sanctions of this magnitude been imposed on countries that have been integrated into world processes, such as Russia.
The United States is not bringing the first relief on sanctions. Previously, States prohibited the supply to Russia of high-tech products important for the defense industry, aircraft and shipbuilding, but also made an exception for the supply of “consumer communication devices” such as personal computers, modems. cell phones, digital cameras.
In addition, the US Treasury removed Russian mineral fertilizers from sanctions. To do this, the United States equated fertilizers with basic crops that were not subject to restrictions. Medicines and agricultural products are on the same list, for example.
Kommersant’s sources among Russian producers said at the time that the US fertilizer decision would send a signal to American allies to do the same. According to the newspaper’s interlocutors, the USA pushed the deficit that started in the world market due to the disruption in supplies from Russia to this step. “Sales got easier” as soon as the US announced the easing, sources said.