The Office of Foreign Assets Control is reissuing its Cyber-Related Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 578, the office said in a Sept. 2 notice. The update replaces regulations published in abbreviated form on Dec. 31, 2015, "with a more comprehensive set of regulations that includes additional interpretive and definitional guidance, general licenses, and other regulatory provisions that will provide further guidance to the public." The regulations will become effective Sept. 6, the date they are set to be published in the Federal Register.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control again extended a general license that authorizes U.S. academic institutions to export certain “online educational services” and software to Iran, the agency said Aug. 25. General License M-2, which replaces General License M-1 (see 2108250008), was extended through 12:01 a.m. EDT Sept. 1, 2023. The previous license, which also was an extension, was scheduled to expire Sept. 1, 2022. OFAC updated FAQ 853 to reflect the updated license.
The U.K. published a General License Aug. 22 under its Russia sanctions regime permitting crown servants and contractors, and their family members or visiting family members, to "carry out activities in their personal capacity in Russia which would otherwise be prohibited," under the Russian restrictions. Where visiting family members -- the spouse, civil partner, parent, sibling or child of a crown servant or contractor -- are concerned, the license extends only to activities that stem from their being in Russia to visit the household of a crown servant or contractor. The license took effect Aug. 19.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Aug. 19 issued one new Russia-related general license, updated an existing Russia-related general license and deleted a range of entries from its Specially Designated Nationals List.
The U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation this week updated a general license that authorizes certain payments to U.K. insurers by sanctioned people or entities. The license includes several amendments related to terrorism insurance, property owners’ liability insurance and claims preparation costs insurance.
The U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation this week issued a new general license to allow certain transactions related to energy use in Mongolia. The license will allow certain payments to certain sanctioned banks -- including the Credit Bank of Moscow, Gazprombank, Sberbank and Rosbank -- or their subsidiaries “for the purpose of making energy available” in Mongolia. The license took effect Aug. 15 and will expire Aug. 14, 2023.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control published in the Federal Register a group of previously issued general licenses, including one set of licenses covering sanctions against Russia and two sets of licenses related to Venezuela. The full text of each license appears in the respective notice.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published three previously issued general licenses in the Federal Register related to Syria, Iran and Venezuela (see 2206100030). The licenses, which expire June 17, 2023, authorize certain transactions related to goods and services for preventing, diagnosing or combating COVID-19.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control reissued three Russia-related general licenses Aug. 3 to clarify that the licenses apply to Joint Stock Company State Transportation Leasing Company. The Aug. 2 GLs (see 2208020032) omitted the word Leasing in the company’s name. The GLs are otherwise unchanged.
The U.K. extended a General License permitting the winding down of positions involving Rosbank for another two months, until Sept. 30, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said. The license was originally published in June and permits an individual or entity to wind down any transactions to which they are a party involving Rosbank or one of its subsidiaries, including closing out any positions, repaying loans, withdrawing deposits and closing accounts.