US Targets $17B Evasion Network
US Sanctions Russia-Linked A7 Network Over Alleged Seventeen Billion Dollar Transfers
Anonymous
Key Points
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A7 was established in 2024 by Promsvyazbank, and a 51% stake is held by Moldovan businessman Ilan Shor, whom the article says was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Moldova for money laundering.
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Treasury identified A7 operations connected with Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, and said companies at least 50% owned by blocked persons may also be subject to blocking restrictions.
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One A7 sub-agent and an affiliated company reportedly received almost $140 million from other sanctioned companies identified by Treasury as involved in Iran-related sanctions evasion.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that facilitators of the network could “lose access to the U.S. financial system.”
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Russia-linked A7 Network on October 1, blocking its assets and designating it a transnational criminal organization. US Treasury alleges the network moved more than $17 billion for Russia- and Iran-linked entities trying to escape American sanctions. The charges include helping Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hide payments through fake trade documents and shell companies.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that anyone helping A7 Network could "lose access to the U.S. financial system." FinCEN also flagged the network to banks and proposed restrictions on transfers involving A7's overseas agents. A7 denies the accusations, saying it only handles legitimate trade and payments.
How A7 Moved Money for Sanctioned Nations
A7 Network used a web of sub-agents across multiple countries to move cash through the U.S. financial system, MLEX reported. The network routed payments through shell companies and used false invoices and misleading product descriptions to hide where the money went. Crypto.News noted the network allegedly helped both Russia and Iran bypass sanctions designed to punish them.
One A7 sub-agent alone received nearly $140 million from other sanctioned companies involved in Iran sanctions evasion. Crypto Briefing identified A7 as Kremlin-backed, with operations traced to Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. Personnel controlled sub-agent accounts using tools to mask their physical locations.
Who Owns and Controls A7 Network
A7 Network was established in 2024 by Promsvyazbank, a Russian bank. Moldovan businessman Ilan Shor holds a 51% stake in the network. Bitcoin Foundation reported that Shor received a 15-year prison sentence in Moldova for money laundering — though he currently operates the network from abroad.
Treasury expanded sanctions to include companies that are at least 50% owned by blocked persons. This rule could catch numerous firms connected to A7's leadership. The agency also identified A7A5, a ruble-backed cryptocurrency token, as blocked property subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
What Happens Now to A7's Financial Reach
All A7 assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction are now frozen. Crypto Briefing noted that financial institutions face pressure to cut ties with the network and its sub-agents. Secretary Bessent's warning puts any bank or payment processor still supporting A7 at risk of losing U.S. market access.
FinCEN's proposed transfer restrictions on A7 sub-agents would make it harder for the network to operate worldwide. MLEX reported that A7 operates a "constellation" of sub-agents designed to evade detection. The sanctions target this distributed structure directly, cutting off the routes these agents use to reach U.S. banks.
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