The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) revealed two Russian individuals, Ilya Gambashidze and Nikolai Tupikin, along with two of their entities, which founded a network of media outlets pretending to be independent news sources.
This network had over 60 websites that imitated legitimate news organizations, and which used misleading social media accounts to amplify the content of the spoofed websites.
“We are committed to exposing Russia’s extensive campaigns of government-directed deception, which are intended to mislead voters and undermine trust in democratic institutions in the United States and around the world”
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson
Ilya Gambashidze is a well-known Russian political strategist who has worked with members of the State Duma and various political parties. In 2022, the newspaper Newizv included him in its ranking of the best political strategists, placing him 19th in the list.
The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:
- GAMBASHIDZE, Ilya Andreevich (Cyrillic: ГАМБАШИДЗЕ, Илья Андреевич). 17, Bld 3, Kuusinena Str, Apt 70, Moscow 125252, Russia; DOB 07 May 1977; POB Kyiv, Ukraine; nationality Russia; citizen Russia; Gender Male; Passport 756410352 (Russia); National ID No. 4522912438 (Russia); Tax ID No. 771401746465 (Russia).
- TUPIKIN, Nikolai Aleksandrovich (Cyrillic: ТУПИКИН, Николай Александрович). Raspletina, Dom 17, Korpus 2, Kv. 7, Moscow 123060, Russia; DOB 06 Jun 1977; POB Moscow, Russia; nationality Russia; citizen Russia; Gender Male; Passport 727760853 (Russia); National ID No. 4503851519 (Russia); Registration ID 319774600345330 (Russia); Tax ID No. 773402066160.
The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:
- SOCIAL DESIGN AGENCY (Cyrillic: АГЕНТСТВО СОЦИАЛЬНОГО ПРОЕКТИРОВАНИЯ). Solviny Pr, 18A, Fl 2, Pom I K 9A O 1, Moscow 117593, Russia; Pr-kt novoyasenevskii, d. 32, k. 1, pomeshch 1/1, Moscow 117463, Russia; Bolshoy Kislovsky, per 1, building 2, Moscow, Russia; Bol’shaya Nikiskaya Ulitsa, 12cl, Moscow 125009, Russia; Website sp-agency.ru; Organization Established Date 05 Dec 2017; Tax ID No. 7728390408 (Russia).
- COMPANY GROUP STRUCTURA LLC (a.k.a. GK STRUKTURA (Cyrillic: ГК СТРУКТУРА). Per. Bolshoi Kislovskii, d. 1, str. 2, Pomeshch/Kom I/42, Moscow 125009, Russia; Website structura.pro; Organization Established Date 12 Dec 2017; Tax ID No. 7703438908 (Russia).
