U.S. quietly lifts sanctions on Putin ally's wife

Karina Rotenberg, the wife of Russian oligarch Boris Rotenberg, closely associated with President Vladimir Putin, was removed from the U.S. sanctions list on Wednesday, according to an update published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The reason for this decision was not disclosed.

The information about Rotenberg's removal from the sanctions list coincided with new sanctions against Russian entrepreneurs who, according to U.S. authorities, are involved in supplying weapons and equipment from Russia to Houthi fighters in Yemen.

The American Treasury Department did not provide a rationale for the decision nor respond to questions from the PAP agency regarding this matter.

Boris Rotenberg is Putin's childhood friend and a former judo training partner. Along with his brother Arkady, he runs Stroygazmontazh, one of the largest contractors for Russian state contracts.

The company made a fortune, among other things, on the construction of the Crimean Bridge, linking Russia with Russian-occupied Crimea. Boris Rotenberg himself was subject to American sanctions in 2014, and his wife Karina eight years later, in 2022.

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) team investigated the Rotenbergs' marriage. Journalists revealed that Karina Rotenberg holds American citizenship and owns properties in Georgia.

The reports indicated that she might have played a significant role in concealing her husband's assets, which helped circumvent international sanctions. Boris Rotenberg also holds Finnish citizenship.