The EU officially imposed its sixth sanctions package on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the European Council announced June 3. The package includes a phased ban on the "purchase, import or transfer" of crude oil and certain petroleum goods from Russia to the EU. The prohibition will take six months for crude oil and eight months for other refined petroleum products. The council also laid out a temporary exception for crude oil imported via pipeline into the EU member states that "suffer from a specific dependence on Russian supplies and have no viable alternative options" -- namely, Hungary, which held up the ban over energy supply concerns (see 2206020016). Bulgaria and Croatia were also granted exceptions for the import of Russian seaborne crude oil and vacuum gas oil, respectively.

The EU imposed restrictive measures on another 12 individuals and eight entities for their role in repressing human rights in Belarus, the European Council announced June 3. The restrictions stand in addition to the EU's sixth sanctions package imposed June 3 and seek to address Belarus' role in the war in Ukraine. The new listings target high ranking state officials, businesspeople and their family members, individuals in the judicial branch and prominent media figures, the council said. The restrictions also target Belaruskali, the country's main potash producer, and its export wing, Belarusian Potash, along with state television and radio broadcasting company Belteleradio. Other companies, including tobacco and public transport vehicle manufacturers, also were listed.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control on June 2 sanctioned six people who support the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization. The designations target Severo Flores Mendoza, a "corrupt municipal police" official; Julio Cesar Montero Pinzon, member of a "violent" CJNG enforcement group; and six family members of a former senior member of CJNG: Esther Godoy Arellano, Angelberto Rincon Godoy, Julio Efrain Rincon Godoy and Moises Gonzalez Anguiano. OFAC previously designated CJNG members of the cartel last year (see 2110060017) and 2202180011). The agency said it worked with the Mexican government, Drug Enforcement Agency and CBP to impose the sanctions.

The U.N. Security Council recently amended six entries on its ISIL (Da'esh) and al-Qaida Sanctions list, according to two separate notices. The revisions change identifying information for each of the entries.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control published three new FAQs related to the Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Sanctions, according to a June 1 notice. The FAQs address how U.S. financial institutions must deal with transactions involving Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies' (CMIC) securities, how holders of CMIC are affected by dividends, and whether they are required to divest interests.

The EU extended its Syria sanctions regime for another year, with restrictions to expire June 1, 2023, the European Council announced May 31. The sanctions apply to 289 individuals and 70 entities, subjecting all to an asset freeze and the individuals to a travel ban. The restrictions were imposed in 2011 to counter the state violence following the Arab Spring protests and ensuing civil war.

Through April 8, the EU froze over $7.1 billion and blocked over $24.3 billion in Russian assets stemming from its sanctions regime on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The European Commission confirmed these figures in a May 30 answer to a Parliamentary question over how the sanctions on Russian and Belarusian oligarchs has led to action. The figures for frozen Russian and Belarusian assets ballooned to $10.3 billion by April 29, with another $3.2 billion seized April 8 to April 29.

Canada this week announced another set of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, including designations targeting 22 more people and four more entities. The new sanctions, announced May 31, apply to “key” Russian financial institutions, including banks, and their senior officials. Canada said it has so far imposed sanctions against more than 1,500 people and entities since Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014, including more than 1,050 designations since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

Two companies said they didn’t face any penalties from the Office of Foreign Assets Control after disclosing potential sanctions violations, according to their most recent SEC filings. Baker Hughes, an American oil services company, said it received a “cautionary letter” from OFAC after voluntarily disclosing potential sanctions violations last year. The company said it told OFAC in September that some of its non-U.S. affiliates may have received payments subject to certain sanctions and debt restrictions and that had U.S. touch points. Baker Hughes received a warning letter from OFAC in February, the company said. The company said it’s still being investigated by the SEC (see 2103040065). Semrush Holdings, a Boston software company that disclosed potential sanctions violations last year (see 2103190020), said it won’t face any penalties from OFAC. The agency “decided not to pursue any enforcement action against us and the matter has been closed,” Semrush said.

Switzerland dropped Ahmad Zargar, Mohammad Hejazi and Seyyed Hasan Firuzabadi from its Iran sanctions regime, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs said in a May 24 amendment. The three individuals were also delisted by the EU and the U.K.