The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned two people and one entity involved in helping North Korea’s weapons and missiles program earn revenue. The designations target Jon Jin Yong and Sergey Mikhaylovich Kozlov, who coordinated work for North Korean construction workers in Russia and procured items used in the ship-building industry. OFAC also sanctioned Intellekt, a company that Yong used in a Moscow-based construction project, for being owned or controlled by Kozlov.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week launched the second episode in its “Introduction to OFAC” series, which is meant to provide guidance and an overview of the agency’s sanctions programs and requirements (see 2307280070). The new video provides an introduction to blocking and non-blocking sanctions.
A sanctioned Chinese supplier of centrifuges to Iran has ties to Chinese military end-users, defense firms and universities, including some that aren’t subject to U.S. trade restrictions, compliance risk advisory firm Kharon said Aug. 24. Kharon said Zhejiang Qingji Ind. Co.’s previously unreported connections highlight the foreign influence risks faced by universities, including in the U.S.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week issued a notice making a minor editorial correction involving its Cuban Assets Control Regulations. OFAC said the error occurred in a reference to its Cuba regulations in the most recent annual revision of the Code of Federal Regulations. The CFR referenced "515.565(d)" when it should have referenced "515.565(f)."
Canada this week sanctioned four people and 29 entities for having “direct ties” to either Russia’s military-industrial complex, its financial industry or its nuclear sectors. Among those designated was a Russian military official associated with the “downing” of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight over Russian-controlled territory in 2014. Canada also sanctioned companies making dual-use aviation, marine and special nuclear equipment -- including Promtekhnologiya LLC, which produces weapons for Russian private military company Wagner Group -- and other financial entities linked to the Russian government.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned six Rwandan or Congolese nationals contributing to the “escalation of conflict” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. OFAC said each belongs to one of four armed groups causing instability in the DRC's eastern portion and committing “serious” human rights abuses.
The State Department this week sanctioned 11 people and two entities for their involvement in forcibly transferring and deporting Ukrainian children from Russia-occupied territories to Russia.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week expanded its Myanmar sanctions regime to cover the country’s jet fuel sector and sanctioned people and companies involved in procuring and distributing jet fuel to Myanmar’s military regime.
DOJ this week indicted two co-founders of virtual currency mixer Tornado Cash, which it said facilitated more than $1 billion in money laundering transactions for the Lazarus Group, the sanctioned North Korean cybercrime organization. The agency said Roman Storm of Auburn, Washington, and Russian national Roman Semenov knowingly conspired to violate U.S. sanctions.
The U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on Aug. 17 amended the entry for Igor Viktorovich Makarov on its Russia sanctions list. The change updated identifying information for Makarov, who supports the Russian government through his work in the country’s energy sector.