Although Japan was considering creating a human rights sanctions regime, it has abandoned the effort for the “time being,” according to a Nov. 16 report from The Mainichi, a Japanese newspaper. The country is hoping to “keep its diplomatic options open” with China, the report said, which would likely require sanctions under the legislation for China's abuses against religious minorities in the Xinjiang region. Japan will consider using existing legislation, including its foreign exchange and foreign trade law, to impose penalties and asset freezes for human rights violations, the report said.
The U.S. and the United Kingdom announced new sanctions against Nicaragua Nov. 15 for human rights violations or actions that have undermined democracy in the country. The U.S. designated nine government officials and one government entity, while the U.K. sanctioned eight government officials.
The U.S. and the European Union are preparing to impose more sanctions against the Alexander Lukashenko regime in Belarus for human rights violations, according to multiple reports. The U.S. sanctions are expected to be closely coordinated with the EU, CNN reported Nov. 10. The EU sanctions could come as soon as this week and may target around 30 people and entities, including the Belarusian airline Belavia, Reuters reported Nov. 10. The White House didn’t comment. The U.S. in August expanded its sanctions authority against Belarus and issued a host of new designations targeting the country’s government for last year’s illegitimate presidential elections (see 2108090033).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Nov. 12 deleted 10 people and 33 entities from its Specially Designated Nationals List that were sanctioned under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. The sanctions were removed from entries located in Mexico, Colombia and Panama after they "demonstrated a change in behavior" or there was a change in " circumstances," an OFAC spokesperson said. The person added that most of the companies removed from the SDN List "are defunct or have been seized by foreign governments" and "are not independently linked to any individuals who remain on the SDN List."
President Joe Biden extended a national emergency that authorizes certain sanctions against Iran, the White House said. U.S. relations with Iran “have not yet normalized,” the White House said Nov. 9, and the country’s government still poses a threat to U.S. national security. The emergency was extended for one year beyond Nov. 14.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two Cambodian government officials for corruption, the agency said Nov. 10. The designations target Chau Phirun, the director-general of the defense ministry’s material and technical services department, and Tea Vinh, the country’s navy commander.
The U.S. should impose more sanctions against the Daniel Ortega regime in Nicaragua in response to the country’s “illegitimate” presidential election this week, several House Republicans said. The lawmakers -- including Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, Mark Green of Tennessee, August Pfluger of Texas and Maria Salazar of Florida -- said Ortega’s continued control over the government has led to unlawful jailings and the silencing of opposing voices. “We urge the Biden Administration to rally our like-minded allies and partners and implement further targeted sanctions on regime officials and entities propping up” the regime, they said Nov. 8. A State Department spokesperson said last week the agency will “continue to use the diplomatic and economic tools at our disposal to support Nicaraguans’ call for greater freedom as well as their accountability and free and fair elections.” A bipartisan group of senators last month also urged the administration to issue more sanctions (see 2110040002).
The U.S. government and the United Nations, including their contractors, are allowed to conduct transactions related to Syria that involve “stabilization and early recovery-related activities,” the Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a Nov. 8 frequently asked question. OFAC also said the U.S. government and its contractors are authorized by a general license “to engage in all transactions in support of their official business” in Syria. The exemption applies to all government employees, including non-governmental organizations and private companies acting as grantees or contractors. The agency stressed that all U.N. or U.S. grantees or contractors must provide a copy of their contract or grant with either the U.N. or the U.S. “before the U.S. person engages in or facilitates any transaction or activity.”
The United Nations Security Council’s sanctions committee adopted its updated guidelines, the UNSC said Nov. 5. The guidelines will help the council “facilitate the conduct of its own work” and provide “useful” guidance to member states on implementing UNSC resolutions.
Kosovo sanctioned seven individuals and one entity on Oct. 27 for their alleged connection with Hezbollah, subjecting them to a travel ban and asset freeze, according to an unofficial translation of decrees. Listed are Ali Reda Hassan al-Banai, Ali Reda al-Qassabi Lari, Abd al-Muayyid al-Banai, Abd al-Rahman Abd al-Nabi Shams, Yahya Muhammed al-Abd-al-Muhsin, Majdi Fai'iz al-Ustadz, Sulaiman al-Banai and AlDar Properties. The sanctions follow those the U.S. imposed Sept. 29 (see 2109290021).