The State Department hasn’t ruled out designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism after being asked to do so by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The U.S. will “look at all potential options that are available to us under the law, options that would be effective in holding Russia to account,” spokesperson Ned Price told reporters April 18. Price said the U.S. has already imposed “unprecedented costs” on Russia, including sanctions and export controls, adding that if a “tool is available and effective, we won't hesitate to use it.”

Russia banned U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and 12 senior British politicians from entering the country in response to U.K. sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an April 16 statement, according to an unofficial translation. The individuals include former Prime Minister Theresa May and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control updated the sanctions entry for Lazarus Group, a North Korean cybercrime group designated in 2019 (see 1909130039). The agency didn’t release additional information.

In a series of sanctions moves, the U.K. corrected three entries under its ISIL (Da'esh) and al-Qaida sanctions regime and added two entries to its Russia sanctions list. Added to the Russia sanctions -- in response to its invasion of Ukraine -- by the U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation are Eugene Tenenbaum and David Davidovich, two associates of sanctioned businessman Roman Abramovich. In the ISIL notice, OFSI amended the entry for Ashraf Al-Qizani and corrected the entries for Mehrez Ben Mahmoud Ben Sassi Al-Amdouni, Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Ramzi Mohamed Abdullah Binalshibh.

Russia announced counter sanctions on U.S. and Canadian senators in a pair of notices from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The restrictions on U.S. legislators apply to 398 individuals and cover a vast majority of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The sanctions on Canada cover 87 Canadian senators, barring them from entering Russia.

The U.K. on April 14 announced a new wave of sectoral sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The restrictions include a ban on the export of luxury goods to Russia, a prohibition on the import of iron and steel goods that are consigned from or originate in Russia and a ban on the direct or indirect acquisition of iron and steel products from Russia or located in Russia. As part of the luxury goods ban, the restrictions prohibit the supply or delivery of luxury goods from a third country to a place in Russia, the making of luxury goods available to a person connected with Russia and the making of luxury goods available for use in Russia.

James O’Brien was confirmed by the Senate April 6 as the State Department’s sanctions coordinator (see 2201130047) and officially began serving in the role last week, the agency said. O’Brien is the first person to head the agency’s ​​Office of Sanctions Coordination since President Donald Trump disbanded the office in 2017. The office will “oversee work on sanctions and further strengthen cooperation with allies and partners in the use of this critical tool,” the State Department said.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory April 14 urging banks and other financial institutions to focus on catching illegal transactions related to kleptocracy and corruption. The advisory outlines various “typologies and potential indicators” of kleptocracy and other forms of foreign corruption, including bribery, embezzlement, extortion and the “misappropriation of public assets.” The advisory said banks should specifically scrutinize Russia-related transactions for “sanctions evasion” attempts. It also outlines suspicious-activity report filing requirements for transactions that banks may suspect of violating sanctions.

The Swiss Federal Council adopted the EU's fifth sanctions package on Russia and Belarus following their invasion of Ukraine, the council said in an April 13 news release. Restrictions include a ban on coal imports and other Russian goods such as wood, seafood and vodka; an export ban on kerosene and other goods; and a ban on Russian companies from participating in public procurement. The sanctions also included a ban on Russian and Belarusian road transport from taking place within the EU. However, Switzerland neglected to impose this restriction, which it said is unnecessary, given its geographic location.

President Joe Biden this week extended the national emergency that authorizes certain sanctions against Russia under an executive order issued last year (see 2104150019). The emergency was extended for one year from April 15.