US Will Respond ‘Forcefully’ to Russia-Related Export Control Evasion, BIS official Says

The Bureau of Industry and Security's addition of 42 entities to the Entity List this week “sends a clear message” that the U.S. and its allies “are watching and will act forcefully” in response to Russian export control evasion, BIS official Thea Kendler said. “Our controls are in place to protect the national security of the United States, and bad actors that violate them will be held accountable.”

The comments from Kendler, the agency's assistant secretary for export administration, came one day after BIS previewed the Entity List additions, which take effect Dec. 7 and included companies either helping to illegally supply parts and drones to Russia’s military, perform contracts for Russian government entities or do business with sanctioned companies (see 2312050046).

In a Dec. 6 press release, BIS said 11 of those entities are “directly tied to or associated” with joint Iranian-Russian efforts to develop and construct a drone-production facility in the “Alabuga Special Economic Zone,” which is designed to “produce thousands of Shahed-136 drones in support of Russia’s war effort against Ukraine.” The agency noted that other entities were added for trying to acquire high-priority U.S.-origin electronic components with military applications for Russia, including parts used in avionics, missiles, receivers and radar.

BIS Undersecretary Alan Estevez said the agency is “taking strong action” against Russian attempts to import items that can be used in military applications. “Yesterday’s actions send a clear message to individual criminals and other enterprises globally that seek to circumvent or illicitly support Russia, wherever they are located, as well as nation-states that seek to support Russia’s illegal war -- we remain vigilant and committed to stopping them,” he said.