The President of Cyprus instructed to find out the reasons for imposing sanctions against citizens of the country

After the inclusion of citizens of Cyprus in the US and UK sanctions lists, President Nikos Christodoulidis convened an emergency meeting and ordered an investigation into the incident. About it informs Associated Press (AP), citing a statement by government spokesman Konstantinos Letimbiotis.

“The President of the Republic considers this case particularly important and has ordered a thorough investigation,” the report says.

Letimbiotis also noted that a number of decisions following the meeting were taken to “protect the reputation of Cyprus as a reliable financial and business center.” The meeting was attended by the Attorney General, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance, a representative of the Central Bank and the head of the department of the Ministry of Finance for the enforcement of sanctions of Cyprus, clarifies Cyprus Mail.

On April 12, a total of 20 Cypriot companies were included in the UK and US sanctions lists, including Almenor, Klaret Aviation and Navis Marine. These companies belong to The Sister Trust (Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov and his sister are named as its founders). Also under sanctions were the companies Windfel, Savoler, Miramonte, which, according to the West, belong to Usmanov.

In addition, 23 Cypriot citizens were subject to restrictions. 10 of them were born in the country, another 13 have dual and triple citizenship, writes Cyprus Mail. Sources of the publication said that immediately after the imposition of sanctions, Cypriot banks froze the accounts of citizens who fell under the restrictions. Among them are Demetrios Sergides, who is called an adviser to Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov, as well as directors of sanctioned companies.