Why is this important
The first Uzbek company under US sanctions for connections with Russia is a signal to businesses to strengthen control over the circumvention of sanctions. Secondary sanctions — American companies, banks cannot work with Datavice, the risk of asset freezing. Aeza Group is a hosting company for cybercriminals, a program for the blackmail of BianLian. Datavice was created in July 2025, immediately after Aeza was blacklisted — a suspicion of a frontline company.
What happened
- The US Treasury Department imposed secondary sanctions against Datavice LLC (Tashkent);
- For connections with the Russian Aeza Group (blacklist since July 2025);
- Aeza Group — hosting for cybercriminals, extorting program BianLian;
- Datavice was created in July 2025, data processing service, manager Maxim Makarov.
Datavice LLC
- Created: July 2025 (immediately after Aeza was blacklisted).
- Tashkent: based in the capital.
- Services: data processing.
- The authorized capital is 24 million soums (~$1900) — the minimum amount for an IT company.
- Head and founder: Maxim Makarov.
Aeza Group
- Russian IT company: hosting, cloud services.
- Blacklist: from July 2025 for hosting cybercriminals attacking the US, other countries.
- BianLian: ransom program, encrypts data, demands ransom. The US Treasury Department suspects Aeza of creating it.
Datavice and Aeza connection
- Suspect: Datavice is Aeza’s front-line company for sanctions evasion (registration in Uzbekistan, connections with a Russian company).
- The evidence: not publicly disclosed, but the US Treasury Department is confident in the connections.
Secondary sanctions
- What is this: sanctions against companies working with sanctioned organizations (Aeza Group).
Datavice consequences:
- American companies and banks cannot work with Datavice;
- The risk of asset freezing in dollars;
- Prohibition of access to American technologies and financial systems.
BianLian
- Extortionist program: encrypts victims’ data, demands ransom in cryptocurrency.
- Attacks: USA, Europe, Asia — hospitals, government institutions, companies.
- Aeza Group: Suspected of creating and hosting BianLian infrastructure.
Context
- The first Uzbek company: under US sanctions for connections with Russia — a signal to businesses to strengthen control over the circumvention of sanctions.
- Datavice was created in July 2025: immediately after Aeza was blacklisted (July 2025) — a suspicion of a frontline company to circumvent sanctions.
- The authorized capital is 24 million (~$1900): the minimum for an IT company is strange for a serious business.
- Maxim Makarov: the manager and founder — little information, possibly just nominal.
- Secondary sanctions: American companies, banks cannot work with Datavice, the risk of asset freezing in dollars.
- BianLian: a dangerous ransomware program that attacked hospitals and government institutions in the US — Aeza Group is suspected of creating and hosting.
