Japan Sanctions Russian Crypto Exchange Garantex Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
The Japanese government has added Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex to its expanded list of sanctions against Russia, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine.
As part of this move, 33 organizations and nine individuals linked to Russia have been added to Japan's asset-freeze list, which restricts payments and capital transactions with the targeted parties. This decision was made by a joint statement issued on Friday by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
Garantex was previously sanctioned by the US, the EU, and other jurisdictions for helping Russian entities evade financial restrictions. The new measures also target 35 vessels identified as part of the so-called 'shadow fleet' that carries Russian oil and helps Moscow evade existing sanctions.