WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on Friday slapped new sanctions onseven of Russia’s richest oligarchs, 12 companies owned or controlled bythem and 17 top bureaucrats, citing Russia’s efforts to undermine Westerndemocracies and support for the Syrian government and Ukrainian separatists.

The sanctioned oligarchs included President Vladimir Putin’s son-in-lawKirill Shamalov, an energy sector executive, and former Trump campaignchair Paul Manafort’s business associate Oleg Deripaska, who has deepconnections with the government and whom the US has alleged was linked to amurder and a Russian organised crime group.

“We cannot allow those seeking to sow confusion, discord, and rancour to besuccessful,” President Donald Trump said in a statement.

The sanctioned companies linked to oligarchs included United Company RUSALPLC, one of the world’s largest producers of aluminium.

Among the government officials targeted were Andrey Akimov, chairman ofstate-owned Gazprombank, Russia’s third largest bank, and Mikhail Fradkov,head of a research body that provides information support to thepresidential administration, Duma and security council.

Also on the list was state-owned Russian weapons trading companyRosoboronexport, which is alleged to have supplied billions of dollarsworth of weapons to the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad. RussianFinancial Corporation Bank, an affiliate, was also named.

“The Russian government operates for the disproportionate benefit ofoligarchs and government elites,” said US treasury secretary StevenMnuchin, announcing the sanctions.