U.S. Senate votes against lifting sanctions from Deripaska’s firms

WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (PRIME) -- The U.S. Senate voted late on Tuesday to block a plan by the Treasury to lift sanctions from companies of Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska.

The decision was passed with 57 votes for and 42 against. The Republicans in the Senate failed to block the resolution.

The document must also be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by the president.

Treasury Department Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Bloomberg that he will not abandon the plan to remove the sanctions against aluminum company RUSAL, En+ Group and EuroSibEnergo.

In April, 2018, the U.S. imposed sanctions against 38 Russian tycoons, officials and companies including Deripaska and his assets.

On December 19, 2018, the Treasury said it would lift the sanctions imposed on En+ Group and EuroSibEnergo, as well as RUSAL in 30 days, but will retain sanctions against Deripaska personally. The resolution against the repeal of sanctions was made by Senator Chuck Schumer, who said that Deripaska would retain an actual control over the companies even after fulfilling a U.S. demand to reduce the stake.

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