United States adds Uzbek company to “blacklist”

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has added Uzbekistan-based company Datavice, along with several other organizations, to its “blacklist,” accusing them of having links to Russia’s IT sector. This information was published on the U.S. Treasury’s official website.

On November 19, the U.S. government approved new sanctions against companies and individuals involved in cyberattacks and those assisting in circumventing existing restrictions. The decision was made under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and in response to activities in Ukrainian territory. The primary aim of these sanctions is to prevent the use of digital technologies to bypass restrictions.

Datavice, founded in July this year in Tashkent, has been a resident of the IT Park since July 31. According to Orginfo, Maksim Makarov is registered as the company’s founder, director, and chief accountant. The company’s charter capital amounts to 24 million Uzbek soms.

All assets of sanctioned individuals and companies under U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. Any financial transactions involving them are prohibited, and violators may face secondary sanctions.

Alongside Datavice in Uzbekistan, the updated list includes the following companies: Media Land (Russia), ML.Cloud (Russia), Kirishi (Russia), Media Land Technology (Russia), Hypercore (United Kingdom), and Smart Digital Ideas Doo Cyber4 (Serbia).

Additionally, five Russian citizens associated with these organizations have also been sanctioned. Washington emphasized that the technology sector is being used for military purposes and to circumvent international sanctions, and stated that pressure will continue.

Previously, the European Union also added Uzbek businessman Rustam Muminov to its 19th package of sanctions. Brussels accuses him of facilitating the supply of cotton cellulose from the Fergana Chemical Plant to Russian gunpowder factories.