U.S. lifts sanctions on firms linked to Russia\'s Deripaska

Donald Trump's administration has lifted sanctions on three firms linked to oligarch Oleg Deripaska, an ally of Vladimir Putin.

That decision defies a push by the Democrats in U.S. Congress to maintain those restrictions.

Democrats had warned that Deripaska retained too much control over the companies.

They said it would be inappropriate to lift sanctions imposed last April.

Those had been put in place to punish Russia for actions including its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, efforts to interfere in U.S. elections and support for Syria's government in its civil war.

Eleven of Trump's fellow Republicans in the U.S. Senate agreed.

Some lawmakers from both parties also said sanctions shouldn't be lifted while Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigates whether Trump's 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Moscow.

Deripaska had ties with Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign manager.

Manafort pleaded guilty in September 2018 to attempted witness tampering and conspiring against the United States.

The U.S. Treasury Department say the three companies had reduced Deripaska's direct and indirect shareholding stake and cut his control, but the man himself remains subject to U.S. sanctions.