US senators accuse Russia's largest banks of funding Assad's regime

A number of U.S. senators called on the U.S. administration to impose sanctions against largest Russian banks, which, according to them, help the Syrian authorities in the purchase of weapons. The appeal to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew was signed by Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne Shaheen, as well as Republicans John Cornyn and Kelly Ayotte. 

According to them, it is necessary to freeze the assets of Russian banks in the United States, prohibit them from any activity in the country and to impose restrictions on foreign travel for bank personnel. A representative of the U.S. Treasury would not comment on the publication of a letter from the senators, but it was noted that Washington was using sanctions to pressure the Syrian authorities.