OFAC Sanctions Russian People, Companies for North Korean Weapons Transfers

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned two people and three entities in Russia for helping to transfer weapons and other military items from North Korea, including shipments of mortars, military communications equipment and aviation parts.

OFAC designated Rafael Anatolyevich Gazaryan for working as a “point of contact” for previously sanctioned Slovokian national Ashot Mkrtychev, who has facilitated arms deals between Russia and North Korea. The agency said Gazaryan has helped Mkrtychev negotiate “to obtain multiple kinds of weapons and munitions for Russia,” including a commercial proposal in October for mortars and mortar shells. OFAC also sanctioned Rafort Limited Liability Company for being owned by Gazaryan and Trans Kapital Limited Liability Company, which he has used to ship aviation parts to a North Korean weapons dealer.

The agency designated Aleksey Budnev for helping to ship military communications equipment to Russia that “likely originated” in North Korea, OFAC said. The agency also sanctioned Tekhnologiya, OOO, which Budnev owns.