The Office of Foreign Assets Control announced the following sanctions action in the last two weeks.
Enforcement Actions
- OFAC Announces Settlement with NY-based SkyGeek Logistics for Violations of Russian Sanctions Violations: OFAC on Dec. 31 announced a $22,172 settlement with SkyGeek Logistics, Inc. (SkyGeek). SkyGeek agreed to settle its potential civil liability for six apparent violations of OFAC sanctions related to Russia’s aerospace and technology sectors. In 2024, SkyGeek attempted two refunds and sent four shipments to two Specially Designated Nationals in the United Arab Emirates sanctioned in connection with these sectors. The settlement amount reflects OFAC’s determination that the apparent violations were non-egregious and that certain of its conduct was voluntarily self-disclosed. Read more.
Russia-related and Iran-related Sanctions
- OFAC Sanctions Iranian and Russian Entities for Attempting to Interfere in U.S. 2024 Election: OFAC on Dec. 31 designated Cognitive Design Production Center, a subsidiary organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), an affiliate organization of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate and CGE director, Valery Mikhaylovich Korovin pursuant to Executive Order 13848. As affiliates of the IRGC and GRU, these actors aimed to stoke socio-political tensions and influence the U.S. electorate during the 2024 U.S. election. OFAC’s actions build on sanctions previously imposed on the IRGC, the GRU, and their numerous subordinate and proxy organizations, pursuant to several authorities targeting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and malicious cyber-enabled activities. Read more.
- OFAC Issues General License and FAQ related to the Designation of Ivanishvili: OFAC on Dec. 27 issued Russia-related General License 116, “Authorizing Transactions Involving Entities Owned by Bidzina Ivanishvili.” OFAC has also issued one new, Russia-related Frequently Asked Question 1204 to answer if U.S. entities and individuals are allowed to engage in transactions or other dealings with entities owned by Ivanishvili that are not listed on OFAC’s Specially Designation Nationals and Blocked Person List. OFAC’s action is in response to its designation of Bidzina Ivanishvili pursuant to Executive Order 14024. Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, was designated for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian regime. Read more from OFAC. Read more from the Department of State.
Corruption and Human Rights Abuse Designations
- OFAC Sanctions Russian Judge for Detention of Human Rights Activist: OFAC on Dec. 31 sanctioned Russian judge Olesya Mendeleeva (Mendeleeva) for her role in the arbitrary detention of Moscow city councilor and human rights defender, Alexei Gorinov. In July 2022, Mendeleeva sentenced Gorinov to seven years in prison for voicing opposition to the war against Ukraine. He has suffered physical abuse and denial of medical treatment in detention. Mendeleeva is being designated pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world. Read more.
Cyber-related Sanctions
- OFAC Sanctions Beijing-based Cybersecurity Company: OFAC sanctioned a Beijing-based cybersecurity company, Integrity Technology Group, Incorporated (Integrity Tech), for its role in multiple computer intrusion incidents against U.S. victims. These incidents have been publicly attributed to Flax Typhoon, a Chinese malicious state-sponsored cyber group that has been active since at least 2021, often targeting organizations within U.S. critical infrastructure sectors. Flax Typhoon exploits publicly known vulnerabilities to gain initial access to victims’ computers and leverages legitimate remote access software to maintain persistent control over their network. Flax Typhoon has compromised computer networks in North America, Europe, Africa, and across Asia, with a particular focus on Taiwan. Read more.
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