Two Cypriots Added to U.S. Sanctions List for Espionage Activities

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury has updated its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list.

Sanctions have been imposed on five individuals and one organization connected to the Intellexa consortium. Among those sanctioned, two hold Cypriot citizenship and one holds Greek citizenship.

According to OFAC, these individuals and entities have been sanctioned "for their roles in developing, exploiting, and disseminating commercial spyware technologies that pose a significant threat to the national security of the United States."

“These sanctions are an extension of the coordinated actions by the U.S. government against commercial spyware providers, including previous sanctions imposed on individuals and organizations linked to the Intellexa consortium,” the statement read.

OFAC has labeled these individuals as responsible for or contributing to a "significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, economic health, or financial stability of the United States."