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US sanctions 17 Saudi nationals over Khashoggi’s murder

The blacklist included, in particular, Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi

© © AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

WASHINGTON, November 15. /TASS/. The United States has sanctioned 12 Saudi Arabian nationals over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the US Department of the Treasury said in a statement.

"Today, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Saud al-Qahtani, his subordinate Maher Mutreb, Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, and 14 other members of an operations team for having a role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. These individuals are designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, to target perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption," the statement reads.

"The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi. These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions. The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi’s fiancee, children, and the family he leaves behind," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, as cited in the statement. "The Government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists," the Treasury Department added.

Khashoggi, known for his criticism of Saudi Arabia's policies, left his home country and moved to the United States in 2017. He worked for The Washington Post, analyzing the situation in Saudi Arabia and the country's foreign policy. On October 20, Saudi authorities announced that the journalist died in a fight in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the murder had been carefully planned. The international community condemned Khashoggi’s murder and called for a transparent investigation.

On November 14, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu emphasized the need for an international investigation into Khashoggi’s murder.

On Thursday, the Saudi prosecution announced the results of its investigation, saying that 21 people had been detained and 11 were charged with involvement in the murder, five of whom could face the death penalty.

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