US hits Russian deputy minister and energy firms with sanctions

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The United States added Russian officials and energy firms to a sanctions blacklist on Friday, days before details of further possible penalties against Moscow are due to be released.

Washington could release reports as early as Monday laying out the possibilities for expanded sanctions against Russia over its alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, an accusation the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.

Leading Democrats in the US Congress wrote to Trump on Friday, demanding that the administration use Monday’s deadline to retaliate for what they described as cyber attacks intended to influence other countries’ elections.

A Treasury Department spokesperson said the department is “actively working” on reports required under the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Terrorism Act” and aimed to release them consistent with timelines in the legislation.

Russia is already under US sanctions over its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and support for separatist rebels fighting in eastern Ukraine.

On Friday, Treasury said it had added 21 people and nine companies to the sanctions list, including some that were involved in the delivery of Siemens gas turbines to Crimea.
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