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Russia
Russia has been known to utilize the weaponization of finance to achieve its political goals on the international stage. Russia's focus has been primarily on implementing sanctions against the pro-Western regimes of former Soviet Union states.

Russia and Ukraine
Viktor Yushcenko, the third president of Ukraine who was elected in 2004, lobbied during his term to gain admission to NATO and the EU. Before his election, the Ukraine received natural gas from Russia at a subsidized rate, much lower than states in the rest of Europe were paying. In 2004, Western European states receiving natural gas from Russia were paying about $235(USD)/TCM (thousand cubic meters); while Ukraine enjoyed a subsidized rate of $50/TCM. Soon after Yushchenko entered office, Russia demanded Kiev pay the same rate that it charged Western European states. This quadrupled Ukraine's energy bill overnight. While Russia had been rather forgiving when it came to Ukraine's energy debts in the past, it now began to enforce repayment of the debt, threatening to cut off all natural gas supply to Ukraine if the debt was not paid. Russia actually did cut off the supply of natural gas in 2006, forcing factories into long term shutdowns that would deal a heavy blow to the Ukrainian economy. As the Ukrainian economy began to struggle, Yushcenko's approval ratings dropped significantly; reaching the single digits by the 2010 election. Viktor Yanukovych won the election in 2010 to become the fourth president of Ukraine. Yanukovych was more supportive of Moscow, and Ukraine quickly received a significant reduction in natural gas prices.

Russia and Georgia
The Rose Revolution in Georgia brought Mikhail Saakashvili to power as the third president of Georgia. Saakashvili wanted to bring Georgia into NATO and the EU while also being a heavy supporter of the U.S. led war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Russia would soon implement a number of different sanctions on Georgia. The Russian state gas monopoly, Gazprom, increased the price of natural gas going to Georgia from $50/TCM to $235/TCM. Russia also used trade sanctions on impact the Georgian economy. Georgia exports wine, citrus fruits, and mineral water to Russia. To Georgia, Russia is important to the state's exports; to Russia, Georgia is not a very significant trading partner. In 2006, Russia banned all imports from Georgia which was able to deal a significant blow to the Georgian economy. Many Georgians rely on employment opportunities across the border in Russia; primarily seeking employment in order to send remittances back home to relatives. While Russia imposed energy and import sanctions on Georgia in 2006, it also implemented sanctions against Georgian migrants; expelling nearly 2,300 Georgians after issuing 4,600 deportation notices. The sanctions had dealt a significant blow to the Georgian economy. In the 2012 and 2013 elections, the Georgian population elected to oust Saakashvili and his political party.

The United Nations
The United Nations (UN) uses finances as a tool to achieve political change. The UN began using sanctions to achieve political change since 1966. This use of weaponized finance can be seen in Article 41 of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The UN has established 26 of these regimes since its founding, 13 of which are still in effect today. Each of these sanctions regimes are headed by a council who oversees and monitors that specific regime. Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, and Somalia are some of the effected countries of these sanctions. The sanctions imposed currently are aimed at a political settlement of conflicts, nuclear non-proliferation, and counter-terrorism. These sanctions include the termination of economic and communications relations with states. Similarly, finances are used as incentives to achieve change as well. One such change can be the preservation of the dugong, an endangered species. These incentives include monetary offerings given, for specified use within the country.

Somalia
Somalia began suffering the effects of the United Nations' sanctions in April of 1992, after the overthrow of the Siad Barre led coup in 1991 during the Somali Civil War. The sanction is overseen by the The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea. During the 1992 council meeting, in which Somalia was present but unable to cast vote, members of the United Nations were required to implement an arms embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia, including the financing of these deliveries. The sanction also included a ban on travel to the country, the sale of coal, and freeze on other assets.

North Korea
Beginning is 2006, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1718 in response to a nuclear test that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted in violation of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The Resolution placed sanctions on the DPRK that banned the sale of military and luxury goods as well as freezing the government's assets. Since then, the United Nations have passed multiple resolutions. The most recent resolution was Resolution 2375 that came into effect September 11th, 2017. Resolution 2375 puts a full ban on supply, transfer or sale of natural gas to the DPRK as well as exports of textiles from the DPRK. Resolution 2375 also imposes stricter financial restraints on North Korea. Another resolution, Resolution 2270, puts restrictions on transport personnel and vehicles employed by DPRK as well as restricting the sale of natural resources as well fuel for aircrafts. The United Kingdom noted that these sanctions were the "toughest measures the Security Council has ever taken". These sanctions, in response to hostile actions taken by North Korea in the form of nuclear and ballistic tests, are intended to keep the DPRK out of the world economic system and cripple the government so that it does not have the resources to continue its nuclear program. When, in 2005, the United States placed sanctions on Banco Delta Asia, a banking system suspected of laundering for North Korea, other banks pulled back and refused business with Banco Delta Asia based on world opinion. These actions taken by the United Nations and United States represent their attempts to turn the financial system of the world into a weapon to be used against the DPRK so that physical violence is not necessary.

There is some discussion on the effectiveness of these sanctions. According to William Brown, of Georgetown University, "sanctions don't have much of an impact on an economy that has been essentially bankrupt for a generation".