The U.K. on Oct. 16 amended one entry under its Russia sanctions regime. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation updated the listing for German Valentinovich Belous, director of Russian financial services company Novikombank, to describe his involvement in obtaining benefits from the Russian government.
The U.K.’s lead sanctions agency is expecting penalty decisions in a range of Russia-related enforcement actions next year, it said in its annual report released this week.
Serena Tang, who recently left her position as a trial attorney at the Federal Maritime Commission’s Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations and Compliance (see 2509290029), is joining law firm Husch Blackwell, she announced on LinkedIn Oct. 14.
Poland on Oct. 10 sanctioned Armen Harutyunyan, who it said manages companies that export nitrogen fertilizers from Belarus to Poland and other EU countries. Harutyunyan is or was the owner or controller of Polish company TST PL, United Arab Emirates-based World Chem Trading Co. and Belarus-based Technospetstrading, Poland said. He's also the indirect owner of Belarus-based Technospetstradingexport LLC.
China's Foreign Ministry this week objected to the Netherlands' takeover of Chinese-owned semiconductor firm Nexperia, saying China "opposes overstretching the concept of national security and discriminatory moves against companies in certain countries." According to an unofficial translation, a ministry spokesperson said during an Oct. 15 press conference that "the relevant country should abide by market principles and refrain from politicizing trade issues. China is firmly resolved in safeguarding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests."
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) unveiled dozens of recommendations Oct. 10 that it said would make the U.S. arms sales process more predictable, efficient and transparent.
The Bureau of Industry and Security recently updated its FAQs on the export control seminars that it holds for businesses and organizations looking to comply with the Export Administration Regulations or obtain continuing legal education credits. The FAQs cover who should attend the seminars, how organizations can request a seminar, how to partner with BIS on a seminar, what topics are usually covered and more.
Chinese drone maker SZ DJI Technology said this week that it will appeal a recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denying the company's challenge to its designation as a Chinese military company. DJI will take the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (SZ DJI Technology v. U.S. Department of Defense, D.D.C. # 24-02970).
Five senators, including leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Oct. 15 that they welcome the Trump administration’s decision to allow a sanctions license for Serbia’s majority-Russian-owned oil company, NIS, to lapse this month. Russia uses energy to commit economic coercion in Europe and sustain its war against Ukraine, said a joint statement from Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and others. They also said that Russia’s stake in the company undermines Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s goal of joining the EU.
The U.K. issued a pair of general sanctions licenses Oct. 15 allowing parties to wind down their positions with various sanctioned energy companies and Russian oil companies.