InfoBytes Blog
OFAC issues sanctions, general licenses, and FAQs on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
On September 15, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the Departments of Commerce and State, announced sanctions against 22 individuals and two entities connected to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to OFAC, the designated persons include multiple individuals who have furthered the Government of the Russian Federation’s objectives in Ukraine, both prior to and during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Also included among those designated is a neo-Nazi paramilitary group that has aided Russia’s military in Ukraine, and two of the group’s senior leaders. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” OFAC further noted that “transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt,” which “include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.”
The same day, OFAC issued Russia-related General License (GL) 51, authorizing the wind down of transactions involving the Limited Liability Company Group of Companies Akvarius, and GL 52, which relates to journalistic activities and the establishment of news bureaus. According to the GL 51, “all transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of any transaction involving Limited Liability Company Group of Companies Akvarius (Aquarius), or any entity in which Aquarius owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, that are prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 14024,” are authorized as of October 15, subject to certain qualifications. According to GL 52, “news reporting organizations that are U.S. persons, and individual U.S. persons who are journalists or broadcast or technical personnel, are authorized to engage in certain transactions where such transactions are ordinarily incident and necessary to such U.S. persons’ journalistic activities or to the establishment or operation of a news bureau and are prohibited” by E.O. 14024, subject to certain qualifications.
Additionally, OFAC published several frequently asked questions clarifying “Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions,” which include guidance on the use of the National Payment Card System (NSPK) or the Mir National Payment System given the broad sanctions imposed on Russia’s financial system this year.