The Office of Foreign Assets Control took sanctions action over the last week in the Russia and terrorism-related programs. OFAC also updated its Specially Designated Nationals List.
SDN List Updates
- OFAC Updates SDN List related to Balkans Designation and a Cyber-related Designation: OFAC on April 12 removed Slobodan Stankovic and an entity, Integral Inzenjering A.D. Laktasi also known as Integral Inzenjering A.D. Inzenjering-Promet-Export-Import, Laktasi and Integral Inzenjering PLC from its SDN list. The designees were initially designated pursuant to Executive Order 14033 of June 8, 2021, Blocking Property and Suspending Entry Into the United States of Certain Persons Contributing to the Destabilizing Situation in the Western Balkans. OFAC also updated a listing for Ruslan Aleksandrovich Peretyatko who was initially designated pursuant to Executive Order 13694 of April 1, 2015, Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities and Executive Order 13757 of Dec. 28, 2016, Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities. Read more.
Russia-related Sanctions
- OFAC Publishes Prohibitions Related to Russian Imports of Metal: OFAC on April 12 published a Determination for Prohibitions Related to Imports of Aluminum, Copper, and Nickel of Russian Federation Origin, and a Determination for Prohibitions on Certain Services for the Acquisition of Aluminum, Copper, or Nickel of Russian Federation Origin related to OFAC’s new prohibitions to disrupt the revenue that Russia earns from its export of aluminum, copper, and nickel. Related to this action, OFAC issued Russia-related General License 13I, Authorizing Certain Administrative Transactions Prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order 14024 and five new, related FAQs 1168 – 1172. OFAC also amended two Russia-related FAQs 1019 and 1128. Read more.
Terrorism-related Sanctions
- OFAC Targets Hamas UAV Unit Officials and Cyber Actor: OFAC on April 12 took action against Hamas, targeting Gaza- and Lebanon-based leaders of the terrorist group’s offensive cyber and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations. Concurrent with this action, the European Union is imposing sanctions targeting Hamas. OFAC designated Hudhayfa Samir ‘Abdallah al-Kahlut (for procuring servers and domains in Iran to host the official al-Qassam Brigades website), William Abu Shanab, Bara’a Hasan Farhat and Khalil Muhammad ‘Azzam. This action builds on OFAC’s recent joint designations with Australia and the United Kingdom on Jan. 22, 2024 that targeted key Hamas financial facilitators, actions with the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024, and Dec. 13, 2023 and Nov. 14, 2023, targeting Hamas leaders and financiers; as well as U.S. actions on Oct. 27, 2023, targeting sources of Hamas support and financing; Oct. 18, 2023, targeting Hamas operatives and financial facilitators; and May 2022, designating officials and companies involved in managing Hamas’s secret international investment portfolio. Read more.
