The United Nations Security Council revised eight entries on its ISIL (Da’esh) and al-Qaida sanctions list, it said March 23. The changes amend identifying information for terrorist financiers and terrorism group members.
The United Kingdom's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation published an updated list of all the individuals or entities subject to an asset freeze in the U.K. The sanctions regimes include individuals and entities from 21 countries, and for seven non-state reasons including cybercrimes and relationship to ISIL (Da'esh) and al-Qaida.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two people and two entities connected to the Myanmar military and its “violent repression” on pro-democracy protests, OFAC said March 22. The sanctions target Than Hlaing, a leader of Myanmar’s police force; military official Aung Soe; the 33rd Light Infantry Division of the Burmese Army; and the 77th Light Infantry Division of the Burmese Army.
The European Union sanctioned 11 individuals and four entities for human rights violations in various countries, the European Council announced in a March 22 news release. The 15 designations, along with the sanctioning of four Russian individuals in early March, constitute the first major listings under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and include individuals and entities from China, North Korea, Libya, Russia, South Sudan and Eritrea. In its first step against Eritrea since fighting began over Ethiopia's Tigray region, the EU sanctioned the nation's National Security Office for extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests. The other sanctions target a Chinese entity (see 2103220034), the Central Public Prosecutor's Office in North Korea and Kaniyat Militia in Libya.
A Boston software company may have violated sanctions against U.S.-embargoed countries, it said in its March 16 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. SEMrush Holdings said it recently submitted an initial voluntary disclosure to the Office of Foreign Assets Control after identifying “customer accounts” that may involve transactions with people in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea region of Ukraine. The company said it plans to provide OFAC with a final report on its disclosures and has not yet received a “determination” from the agency. SEMrush said it may face penalties. A company spokesperson didn't comment.
The U.S. continues to oppose Nord Stream 2 and threatened more sanctions against entities involved in the completion of the European gas pipeline, which is nearing completion despite U.S. pressure. Sanctions against the pipeline have “significant” bipartisan support from Congress, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said March 18, adding that the agency is “tracking efforts” to complete the project and is monitoring companies who may be involved. “The Department reiterates its warning that any entity involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline risks U.S. sanctions and should immediately abandon work on the pipeline,” Blinken said. The secretary's comments came a month after a bipartisan group lawmakers asked the State Department for an update on the agency’s implementation of sanctions against the pipeline (see 2102170013).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is amending the maximum civil penalty amount for certain sanctions violations to reflect inflation adjustments for its civil monetary penalties, it said in a notice. The changes, effective March 17, increase the maximum penalties for violating the Trading With the Enemy Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act and the Clean Diamond Trade Act. OFAC also increased the maximum civil penalties for certain record-keeping violations and made several technical changes to “consolidate or shorten” certain citations in OFAC’s regulations.
The United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of its mission in South Sudan, which includes monitoring the country's human rights violations and recommending sanctions, the UNSC said March 12. The council urged South Sudan to allow imports of humanitarian goods and cease human rights abuses, saying it will “consider all appropriate measures” against violators. It also urged UN member states to continue to “prevent the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related” items to South Sudan.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a March 9 guidance about new regulations and measures surrounding trade in “antiquities and art.” FinCEN said banks with Bank Secrecy Act obligations “should be aware” that they may be involved in illegal trading of art, which may include money laundering and sanctions violations. The guidance outlines how financial institutions should be filing Suspicious Activity Reports that detail the potential violations.
The State Department issued terrorism designations targeting two groups and two people, according to notices released March 10. The agency designated the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique branches of the Islamic State group as foreign terrorist organizations. The DRC and Mozambique branches were also designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The State Department also designated Seka Musa Baluku, a leader of the DRC group, and Abu Yasir Hassan, a leader of the Mozambique group, as SDGTs.