U.S. designates Russia-linked sanctions-evasion payment network A7 a ‘significant transnational criminal organization’
The U.S. Treasury Department has designated A7, a Russia-linked payment network created to evade sanctions, a “significant transnational criminal organization.”
The U.S. Treasury Department has classified A7, a Russia-associated payment network designed to circumvent sanctions, as a "significant transnational criminal organization." This classification will enable the prohibition of U.S. financial institutions from engaging in any transactions involving A7's "Sub-Agents," foreign shell companies that facilitate the network's payment processing for clients within Russia.
The restrictions on A7 were implemented as part of sanctions imposed against Iran. The Treasury Department revealed that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and central bank had utilized the network's services. Moldovan businessman Ilan Shor established A7 in 2024, with the participation of Russia's Promsvyazbank. A7 comprises numerous companies in third countries that process payments for clients in Russia.
A7 processed an estimated 7.5 billion rubles in payments during the first half of 2025, according to Promsvyazbank's own assessment. The Russian entity A7 and A7A5, the ruble-based stablecoin it created, have been subjected to U.S. sanctions since August 2025.
Written by urgent.news from Meduza (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
