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OFAC issues new Russia-related general licenses
On August 19, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License (GL) 38A and GL 50. GL 38A authorizes transactions related to pension payments to U.S. persons or non-U.S. persons not located in the Russian Federation that are normally prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 “provided that the only involvement of blocked persons is the processing of funds by financial institutions blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.” GL 50 authorizes “the closing of an account of an individual, wherever located, who is not a blocked person” held at financial institutions blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. GL 50 also permits “the unblocking and lump sum transfer of all remaining funds and other assets in the account to the account holder, including to an account of the account holder held at a non-blocked financial institution.”
OFAC sanctions Russian companies and other entities
On August 1, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced several new sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new sanctions, issued pursuant to Executive Order 14024, target elites, a major multinational company, a sanctions evasion operation, and a yacht used by a sanctioned individual. The action was taken together with the U.S. Department of State, which imposed additional sanctions on entities and individuals, as well as visa restrictions. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, and “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more” by the targeted persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless exempt or authorized by a general or specific OFAC license.
The following day, OFAC issued several new Russia-related General Licenses (GLs). OFAC also published three frequently asked questions regarding “Russian Harmful Foreign Sanctions.”
OFAC issues Russia-related sanction, general licenses, and FAQs
On July 21, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced Russia-related General License (GL) 45 and GL 46. GL 45 authorizes transactions related to the wind down of certain financial contracts prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 14071. GL 46 authorizes transactions in support of an auction process to settle certain credit derivative transactions prohibited by E.O. 14071. OFAC also announced that it published two new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and two amended FAQs on “Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions.” Additionally, OFAC added a name to the SDN list.
Treasury clarifies impact of sanctions on agricultural commodities, agricultural equipment, or medicine relating to Russia
On July 14, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a Fact Sheet to clarify that the U.S. has not imposed sanctions on the production, manufacturing, sale, or transport of agricultural commodities, agricultural equipment, or medicine relating to Russia. Additionally, OFAC issued General License (GL) 6B to expand agricultural and medical authorizations to now cover transactions related to agricultural equipment that would normally be prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations. OFAC emphasized that U.S. sanctions on Russia issued in response to its war against Ukraine “do not stand in the way of agricultural and medical trade.” OFAC referred to guidance issued in April for more details on authorizations under U.S. sanctions related to agricultural and medical transactions, nongovernmental organization activities, and Covid-19 relief, among others, to support people impacted by Russia’s war (covered by InfoBytes here).
OFAC issues Notification of Blocked Property to sanctioned Russian oligarch’s trust
On June 30, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a Notification of Blocked Property to a Delaware-based trust in which an OFAC-designated Russian oligarch holds a property interest. As previously covered by InfoBytes, in April 2018, OFAC sanctioned seven Russian oligarchs, including the Russian oligarch who holds a property interest, along with 12 companies they own or control, 17 senior Russian government officials, and a state-owned Russian weapons trading company and its Russian bank subsidiary pursuant to the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA) and Executive Orders 13661, 13662, and 13582. According to OFAC, the trust holds assets valued at over $1 billion; therefore, this enforcement action ensures that those assets continue to be blocked and inaccessible to the OFAC-designated Russian oligarch. As a result of the Notification of Blocked Property, the trust is subject to the same prohibitions applicable to the OFAC-designated Russian oligarch. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the U.S. involving any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited, unless exempt or authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC. These prohibitions 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.
OFAC sanctions nearly 100 Russian targets; prohibits Russian gold imports
On June 28, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Orders (E.O.) 14024 and 14065 against 70 entities—many of which, according to OFAC, “are critical to the Russian Federation’s defense industrial base, including State Corporation Rostec, the cornerstone of Russia’s defense, industrial, technology, and manufacturing sector.” Twenty-nine Russian individuals were also designated. “We once again reaffirm our commitment to working alongside our partners and allies to impose additional severe sanctions in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said. OFAC’s designations occurred in tandem with actions taken by the U.S. State Department, which include sanctions against an additional 45 entities and 29 individuals as well as visa restrictions against “officials believed to have threatened or violated Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence.” Additionally, OFAC immediately prohibited the importation of Russian gold into the U.S. (unless licensed or otherwise authorized by OFAC). As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the designated persons in the U.S. 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 noted that U.S. persons are prohibited from participating in transactions with the sanctioned persons unless authorized by a general or specific license.
A joint alert issued by FinCEN and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security also urged financial institutions to remain vigilant against Russian and Belarusian export control evasion and to take a “risk-based approach” for identifying potentially suspicious activity, such as end-use certificates, export documents, or letters of credit-based trade financing. “Financial institutions and the private sector continue to play a key role in disrupting Russia’s efforts to acquire critical goods and technology to support its war-making efforts,” OFAC stated in its announcement.
On the same day, OFAC issued several new Russia-related general licenses (GL): (i) GL 39 authorizes the wind down of transactions ordinarily incident and necessary involving State Corporation Rostec that are normally prohibited by E.O. 14024; (ii) GL 40 authorizes “all transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the provision, exportation, or reexportation of goods, technology, or services to ensure the safety of civil aviation involving one or more of” certain blocked entities; (iii) GL 41 authorizes certain transactions related to agricultural equipment that are normally prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations; (iv) GL 42 authorizes certain transactions with the Federal Security Services; and (v) GL 43 authorizes the divestment or transfer of debt or equity of, and wind down of derivative contracts involving the Public Joint Stock Company Severstal or Nord Gold PLC.
OFAC also published a Determination Pursuant to Section 1(a)(i) of Executive Order 14068 concerning prohibitions related to the importation of Russian gold and issued one new and one amended frequently asked question.
The Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force also issued a joint statement summarizing actions taken by REPO members against sanctioned Russians. The efforts have led to more than $30 billion worth of sanctioned Russians’ assets being blocked or frozen and has heavily restricted sanctioned Russians’ access to the international financial system.
FAFT restricts Russia’s membership privileges, takes action against corruption and virtual asset misuse
On June 17, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) concluded another plenary meeting, in which it, among other things, took steps to restrict Russia’s FATF membership privileges. During the meeting, FATF again criticized Russia’s war against Ukraine and issued a statement, stressing that “Russian actions run counter to the FATF core principles aiming to promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system. They also represent a gross violation of the commitment to international cooperation and mutual respect upon which FATF Members have agreed to implement and support the FATF standards.” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also stated that she “welcome[s] the serious steps the FATF took to restrict Russia’s presence in its community.” FATF members agreed that Russia can no longer hold any leadership or advisory roles, nor take part in decision making on any standard-setting, peer-review processes, governance, or membership matters. Russia is also prohibited from providing assessors, reviewers, or other experts for FATF peer-review processes. FATF stated it “will monitor the situation and consider at each of its Plenary meetings whether grounds exist for modifying these restrictions.”
FATF also produced policy recommendations for combatting corruption and countering corrupt actors or illicit funds. FATF stated it will continue to fight the abuse of shell companies, trusts, or other legal arrangements employed by bad actors, and intends to seek input on guidance to implement recommendations related to the collection and verification of beneficial ownership information for companies or other legal entities. FATF members will release a white paper for public consultation on important issues concerning “the misuse of trusts and other legal arrangements to facilitate illicit finance,” and will published guidance on ways governments and firms can mitigate money laundering risks within the real estate sector.
Additionally, FATF adopted a report on virtual assets during the meeting, calling “for accelerated compliance by the public and private sectors with the FATF standards, particularly the ‘travel rule,’ for virtual assets and virtual asset service providers.” The travel rule requires virtual asset service providers to collect or send information on the identities of the originator and beneficiary of virtual asset transfers. However, FATF noted that, despite some progress, not all countries have introduced the travel rule, creating significant vulnerabilities for criminal misuse and underscoring the need for universal implementation and enforcement of the travel rule. FATF also approved a new project related to ransomware finance and related money laundering, with an objective of raising global awareness and understanding of how payments for ransomware are made and how these proceeds are often laundered.
OFAC sanctions Nicaraguan persons
On June 17, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13851 against a state-owned Nicaraguan mining company and a high-ranking official for allegedly engaging in actions or policies that are used to “oppress the people of Nicaragua" and engaging "in activities that pose a threat to the security of the hemisphere.” According to OFAC, the company regulates gold mining through the issuance of land concessions to domestic and foreign companies, which feature several joint ventures with private firms. Furthermore, high-ranking members of the government regime have benefitted greatly from Nicaragua’s increase in gold exports, due in large part to the designated mining company. This oppressive regime has engaged in election rigging, OFAC said, and has deepened its relationship with Russia in its war against Ukraine, while using gold revenue to support its activities. As a result, all property and interests in property of the sanctioned individuals and entities, and any entities that own, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of such persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from entering into transactions with the sanctioned persons.
OFAC sanctions members of Russian extremist group
On June 15, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, against two key supporters of a Russian extremist group. The U.S. State Department previously designated the extremist group as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization in 2020 for having provided training for acts of terrorism. Concurrent with OFAC’s action, the State Department is also designating an individual for posing a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism. According to Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson, the extremist group “has sought to raise and move funds using the international financial system with the intent of building a global network of violent groups that foster extremist views and subvert democratic processes.”
As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individuals in the U.S. are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC.” OFAC noted that U.S. persons are prohibited from participating in transactions with the sanctioned persons unless authorized by an OFAC general or specific license or are otherwise exempt.
OFAC further warned that engaging in certain transactions with the designated individuals entails risk of secondary sanctions, and cautioned that it can also “prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that either knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transactions on behalf of a SDGT, or that, among other things, knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for [the extremist group] or certain persons designated for their connection to [the extremist group].”
OFAC issues Russia-related general licenses and FAQs
On June 14, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License (GL) 8C, which authorizes (with certain enumerated exceptions) transactions related to energy. According to the GL, all transactions prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 involving entities that are related to energy are authorized, through December 5, 2022, under certain circumstances. OFAC also published amended FAQs, which provide further information on GL 8C, and clarify Russian sanction information under E.O. 14024, among other things.