U.S. Sanctions Former Russian Olympic Tsar

(ATR) Dmitry Kozak is among seven government officials sanctioned by the U.S. Monday over their involvement in the conflict with Ukraine.

Deputy prime minister Kozak, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, had worked shoulder to shoulder with the Sochi 2014 organizing committee since 2008 to prepare the Games. He was applauded by the IOC for his contribution to the Olympics.

In March, Kozak was appointed by Putin to oversee economic development in Crimea after it was annexed by Russia.

The U.S. confirmed today that he was one of the targets linked to Putin's "inner circle" who was subject to an asset freeze and a visa ban.

President Barack Obama announced fresh sanctions against Russia during a visit to the Philippines. He said it was part of a "calibrated effort" to change Moscow's behavior in Ukraine, according to the BBC.

The White House accuses Russia of failing to meet its commitments to de-escalate the crisis.

The sanctions came as the mayor of Kharkiv was shot and critically wounded while pro-Russian separatists continue to occupy government buildings in cities across eastern Ukraine.

The European Union could also announce new sanctions against Russia in the coming days. The U.S. and EU have already imposed sanctions on a number of individuals and companies in response to Russia’s illegal intervention in Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Kozak took some of the credit for helping deliver what he said was the first profitable Winter Olympics for decades.

"The surplus has been equal to 800 million rubles [over $22 million]. This is an impressive result," Kozak told reporters. He said maintenance of the new Olympic infrastructure in Sochi was calculated at around $110 million per year.

At the time, he was quoted as saying he did not see Crimea as a rival tourist destination to Sochi.

"We are absolutely sure that tourism in Sochi will grow despite the new opportunity for recreation [in Crimea that] has appeared," Kozak said, according to a Xinhua report.

Written by Mark Bisson

Homepage photo: Getty Images

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