On November 10, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued amended Russia-related General License No. 8D extending the authorization to conduct transactions involving Vnesheconombank, Bank Financial Corporation Otkritie, Sberbank, VTB Bank, Alfa-Bank, and the Central Bank of Russia that are related to energy until May 15, 2023. The original
Sanctions
Commerce, Treasury and State Departments Issue Joint Alert on Russia Sanctions and Export Controls
On October 14, 2022, the Departments of Commerce, Treasury and State issued a joint alert regarding the Impact of Sanctions and Export Controls on Russia’s Military-Industrial Complex. The alert provides a summary of the major actions taken by Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) with…
OFAC Expands Russia Sanctions Following Putin’s Illegal Annexation of Four Ukrainian Regions
On September 30, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated hundreds of Russian individuals and entities and placed them on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of additional Ukrainian territories.
The new designations target 14 suppliers connected to the country’s military-industrial complex, including…
Commerce Adds Numerous Russian Entities to BIS’ Entity List
On September 30, 2022, in response to Russia President Vladimir Putin’s illegal effort to annex further Ukrainian territory, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Final Rule that added 57 entities located in Russia and the Crimea region of Ukraine to the Entity List for supporting the Russian military’s continuing…
OFAC Sanctions Facilitators of Iranian Oil Sales
On September 29, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned a network of international companies for facilitating the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum products to South and East Asia. OFAC targeted the network, which includes a myriad of front companies in…
Annual Blocked Property Reports Due to OFAC by September 30
All U.S. persons and persons otherwise subject to U.S. jurisdiction, not only U.S. financial institutions, holding property blocked pursuant to various OFAC sanctions programs must file their annual reports on such blocked property by September 30, 2022. This report is pursuant to 31 C.F.R. §§ 501.603. This report must include all blocked property held as…
OFAC and BIS Implement Additional Sanctions Against Russia
On September 15, 2022, the Department of the Treasury and Department of Commerce took additional actions to sanction entities and individuals furthering Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and to tighten export controls targeting Russia’s military and defense capabilities.
OFAC Additions to the SDN List
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced…
Treasury Issues Determinations on Quantum Computing Services in Russia
On September 15, 2022, the Department of the Treasury issued a Determination pursuant to E.O. 14071 that prohibits the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a U.S. person, wherever located, of quantum computing services to any person located in the Russian Federation. This determination will take effect…
OFAC Issues Russia-Related General Licenses
On August 19, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued two Russia-related General Licenses (GL) authorizing certain limited activities with Russian financial institutions which have been blocked and designated on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List.
Placement on the SDN List results in all property and interests in property…
BIS Issues FAQs to Address Evasion and Diversion Concerns
On August 16, 2022, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued several new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) addressing potential red flags for diversion concerns.
Regarding semiconductor foundries, one FAQ asks if there any special red flags that should be considered with regard to parties (e.g., integrated circuit designers) on the Entity…
