Russia denies links to US-blacklisted firms
Companies are suspected of illicit export activity
Moscow: Companies blacklisted by the US on suspicion of illegally passing information to a foreign state did not give anything to Russia’s defence industry, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said.
The US Commerce Department blacklisted 165 foreign companies and individuals in connection with the activities of several people from the former republics of the USSR.
They were suspected of illicit export activity involving a variety of high-tech items.
“None of them supplied anything to us,” Rogozin said.
“This latest row — thank the Americans — is a slap in the face for those in Russia who think that foreigners will help us,” he said.
Russia is committed to creating “its own microelectronics base”, he said.
The Commerce Department said these individuals and companies are unlikely to ever get these licences in future.
The FBI in New York said that Brooklyn US Attorney Loretta E. Lynch had charged 11 suspects with illegally exporting military technology to Russia, namely, microelectronic components destined for Russia’s intelligence and military agencies.
