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.

The U.K. added 206 entries to its Russia sanctions list, in an April 13 notice. The new additions include Russian oligarchs and businessmen, family members of sanctioned individuals and Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russian member of the Ukrainian parliament. Members of the Donetsk and Luhansk parliaments are also included.

Japan imposed another wave of sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, according to a notice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new restrictions apply to 398 individuals, 25 companies and Sberbank and Alfa-bank. The sanctioned Russian individuals include members of the State Duma, President Vladimir Putin's daughters and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's wife and daughter. The restrictions will take effect on May 12, the ministry said in an accompanying press release.