The Council of the European Union on May 28 renewed for another year its sanctions measures on Syria, also extending the humanitarian exemption in the restrictions regime. The sanctions now run until June 1, 2025, and cover 316 people and 86 entities. The humanitarian exemption was originally introduced in February 2023, following an earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria. The council also removed five deceased people and "one other individual" from the sanctions list.

The Council of the European Union established a new sanctions framework to target entities and people responsible for undermining democracy and committing "serious human rights violations" in Russia, it said May 27. Along with the announcement, the EU sanctioned the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation, which manages Russia's prison system, along with 19 judges, prosecutors and other judiciary members.

The Council of the European Union on May 27 sanctioned two people and one entity involved in Russian war propaganda, including “propaganda actions targeted at civil society in the EU and its neighbouring countries.” The designations target media outlet Voice of Europe; Artem Marchevskyi, a "concealed head” of Voice of Europe; and Viktor Medvedchuk, a political figure who has “promoted policies and actions intended to erode [the] credibility and legitimacy” of Ukraine.

The U.K. last week updated a general license and guidance involving its price cap and servicing restrictions on Russian oil. The country’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said the changes offer more clarity on certain exclusions and exceptions under the price cap, including by updating page six of the general license to clarify what type of services can be provided with Russian oil purchased at or below the cap. The agency also updated sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.4 of its price cap guidance.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control deleted two aircraft from its Specially Designated Nationals List that were originally added for their ties to designated Iranian airlines Mahan Air and Pouya Air. One removed plane has aircraft registration number EP-MND (linked to Mahan air), the other is EP-GOM (linked to Pouya Air). The agency didn't release more information.

A December executive order that gave the U.S. broader authority to sanction financial institutions involved in shipping goods to Russia has had a “meaningful impact” on Russia’s military industrial supply chains so far, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said this week.

The U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation this week sanctioned three people with ties to al-Shabaab, the Somalia-based and al-Qaida-linked terrorist group. The designations mirror an earlier announcement made by the U.N. Security Council (see 2405220012) and target Abdikadir Mohamed Abdikadir, Mohamed Mohamud Mire and Mohamed Omar Mohamed.

The U.N. Security Council this week sanctioned three people with ties to the Somalia-based al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida linked terrorist group. The designations target Abdikadir Mohamed Abdikadir, Mohamed Mohamud Mire and Mohamed Omar Mohamed.

U.K. defense minister Grant Shapps said he has evidence that China is supplying Russia with lethal aid for its war in Ukraine.

Canada this week announced another round of sanctions against Russia, targeting two people and six entities that the country said have helped ship weapons, missiles and other military items from North Korea to Russia. Canada said it has “recorded evidence” that the Kremlin used the weapons in its war against Ukraine last year and this year. The two people designated are “senior representatives of Russian enterprises that are closely linked” to the Russian military, and the entities are Russian shipping companies that own or operate planes and cargo vessels that were used to transport the weapons.