Sanctions issued over rights abuses

U.S. hits more than a dozen individuals

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday imposed economic sanctions on more than a dozen individuals suspected of human rights violations in six countries and banned two others from entering the United States, including a former Saudi official in Turkey for his alleged role in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Treasury Department’s announcement, made on International Human Rights Day, sanctioned individuals from Myanmar, Pakistan, Libya, Slovakia, South Sudan and the Congo. The action blocks all property and interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction that are owned or partially owned by those sanctioned.

In addition, the State Department restricted U.S. entry for Mohammed al-Otaibi, former consul general of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul, Turkey, in connection with the killing of Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist living in the United States who had written critical articles about the Saudi royal family.

State also restricted U.S. entry for Aslan Iraskhanov, director of the interior affairs ministry for Chechnya’s capital, Grozny, who the U.S. alleges was responsible for the execution of 27 men.

“The Russian government fails to take adequate steps to prosecute or punish officials involved in these abuses and violations,” the department said.

The Treasury sanctions were imposed under an executive order implementing the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption.