In a significant move this year, the United States Treasury Department has decided to lift sanctions imposed on a Russian hosting provider, Merion Networks. This marks the second such instance in 2024 where the US has removed restrictions from a company previously accused of providing “bulletproof” or malicious hosting services that facilitate cybercrime and other illicit activities.
Merion Networks was originally sanctioned for allegedly providing infrastructure to cybercriminals and groups involved in state-sponsored hacking activities originating from Russia. However, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the delisting based on a reassessment of the company’s status.
The decision to remove Merion Networks from the sanctions list follows a pattern seen earlier this year with another Russian hosting company, King Servers, which also had its sanctions lifted. In both cases, the US authorities indicated that the companies had undergone significant changes, including changes in ownership and operations, and had effectively severed ties with the sanctioned entities and activities that led to the initial restrictions.
Lifting these sanctions means that US persons are now permitted to engage in transactions and business dealings with Merion Networks, whereas previously such interactions were largely prohibited. This development suggests a potential shift or success in disrupting the links between certain Russian IT infrastructure providers and harmful cyber operations, allowing compliant businesses to operate without US restrictions.
This action underscores the dynamic nature of US sanctions policy, which aims to target specific harmful behavior and entities, but also allows for the removal of restrictions when circumstances change and companies demonstrate a commitment to ceasing support for malicious cyber activity.
Source: https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/07/02/aeza_group_us_sanctions/
