OFAC Sanctions 2 People, 3 Companies for Corruption in Guatemala

The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated two people and three companies for their roles in exploiting the Guatemalan mining sector, along with three associated entities connected with their corruption schemes, according to a Nov. 18 news release.

Russian national Dmitry Kudryakov and Belarusian national Iryna Litviniuk were designated under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets perpetrators of human rights abuse and corruption. The three companies, Compania Guatemalteca de Niquel, Compania Procesadora de Niquel and Mayaniquel, are subsidiaries of the Solway Investment group, which OFAC said is a Russian enterprise that has exploited Guatemalan mines since 2011. As the leader of Solway’s mining operations in Guatemala, Kudryakov, along with Litviniuk, allegedly led multiple bribery schemes over several years involving politicians, judges and government officials. Litviniuk also conducted various "corrupt acts" as part of Russian influence operations by bribing public officials in exchange for support for Russian mining interests.