The U.K. added 17 new entries to its Russia sanctions regime, including big players in Russian state media, following Russia's military assault on Ukraine. The newly listed parties include Anton Anisimov, editor-in-chief of Sputnik, the Russian state-funded international news agency, along with Sputnik's parent company Rossiya Segodnya and TV-Novosti, another major Russian media organization. In one notice, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation added 12 individuals and two entities. In another notice, OFSI added three entities -- Photon Pro LLP, Majory LLP and Djeco Group LP -- to the Russia sanctions regime, subjecting them to an asset freeze, for involvement in destabilising Ukraine or undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine.
The U.K. amended one entry under its Russia sanctions regime and removed another, in a March 30 notice. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended the listing for Sergey Pavlovich Ivanov, changing his middle name from Borisovich to Pavlovich. OFSI also dropped a duplicate of the listing for Aleksander Aleksandrovich Mikheev. It said the original listing for Mikheev continues to apply and is still subject to an asset freeze.
The Treasury Department this week expanded its sanctions authorities to cover Russia’s aerospace, electronics and marine sectors, building on an April 2021 executive order that targeted the country’s defense and technology sectors (see 2104150019). Treasury also announced a host of new designations against Russian people and entities, including the country’s largest chip maker.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is adding 120 entities to its Entity List for supporting the Russian and Belarusian militaries, the agency said in a final rule. The additions include military end-users in Russia and Belarus, along with others that have tried to send export-controlled items to Russia’s military, BIS said. The parties will be subject to a “highly restrictive” policy of denial for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations, the agency said, and no license exceptions will be available. The additions, which will be published in the Federal Register April 7, take effect April 1.
U.S. export controls against Russia have proven to be effective more quickly than expected, said Thea Kendler, the Bureau of Industry and Security's assistant secretary for export administration. While the U.S. restrictions have hit key Russian industrial and defense inputs, Kendler said a major reason behind their success has been the substantial buy-in from allies in Europe and Asia.
The State Department recently approved up to $1 billion in combined emergency military assistance to Ukraine, it said in Federal Register notices released March 30. The first notice approves $800 million and the second notice approves $200 million of defense equipment, services and aid. The department approved the emergency assistance, part of a DOD “drawdown” package, because the aid could not have been met under the authority of the Arms Export Control Act or “any other provision of law.”
During a hearing with the House Ways and Means Committee March 30, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai was asked by many Republicans and a few Democrats why the administration has ruled out cutting tariffs to convince negotiating partners in Asia to open their markets, and why it has shied away from continuing free trade agreement negotiations started during the previous administration.
The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee is asking the Biden administration for more information on Russia's ability to use digital currencies to evade sanctions. The director of national intelligence should say whether there are “any indications” Russia is using digital assets to evade sanctions, said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, including whether Russian oligarchs and officials are turning to cryptocurrency.
The U.S. and Canada issued more sanctions last week against people and entities in Myanmar responsible for supplying defense equipment to the country’s military regime. The Office of Foreign Assets Control targeted five people and five entities, including several arms dealers and their companies, for supporting the regime. Canada sanctioned four suppliers and two entities, including Myanmar Chemical & Machinery and Yatanarpon Aviation Support. The U.K. announced similar sanctions (see 2203280009).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned Iranian procurement agent Mohammad Ali Hosseini and four Iranian entities that procured ballistic missile propellant-related materials. “This action reinforces the United States’ commitment to preventing the Iranian regime’s development and use of advanced ballistic missiles,” Brian Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a news release March 30. “While the U.S. continues to seek Iran’s return to full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, we will not hesitate to target those who support Iran’s ballistic missile program. We will also work with other partners in the region to hold Iran accountable for its actions, including gross violations of the sovereignty of its neighbors.”