The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned four companies and one person connected to the sanctioned Russian military group PMC Wagner (Wagner Group) and its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. The designations target Central African Republic-based Midas Resources SARLU and Diamville SAU, United Arab Emirates-based Industrial Resources General Trading and Russia-based Limited Liability Company DM, which are involved in “illicit gold dealings” to help fund the Wagner Group. OFAC also sanctioned Andrey Nikolayevich Ivanov, a Wagner executive who has worked closely with Prigozhin’s entity, Africa Politology, and senior Malian government officials on weapons deals and other activities in Mali.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week sanctioned two Russian Federal Security Service officers recently indicted by DOJ for assisting the Kremlin’s foreign election interference efforts. The designations target Yegor Sergeyevich Popov and Aleksei Borisovich Sukhodolov.

Canada this week announced a new set of sanctions against Iran, designating seven Iranian judges for their role in “gross and systematic human rights violations.” Canada said the judges are “notorious” for issuing death sentences and prison terms following sham trials based on evidence “gathered under torture.” The designations help align Canada’s Iran sanctions regime with those administered by the U.S., the EU and the U.K., the country said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published a previously issued general license under its Venezuela Sanctions Regulations. The full text of the license is available in the notice.

Swedbank, whose subsidiary reached a $3.4 million settlement with the Treasury Department this week to resolve allegations it violated U.S. sanctions (see 2306200060), said DOJ, SEC and the Department of Financial Services in New York also are investigating it. The bank is “holding separate discussions with these agencies” and the probes are at different stages, it said June 19. “At this time, the bank cannot assess the extent of potential financial consequences, nor when the investigations will be completed.”

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned Myanmar’s Ministry of Defense and two financial institutions that help facilitate foreign currency exchanges within the country and transactions between the military and foreign markets. OFAC said state-owned Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank allow the country’s defense ministry to buy arms and “other materials.”

The Office of Foreign Assets Control published a previously issued general license under its Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations. The full text of the license is available in the notice.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned two South Sudan individuals who have “abused their positions of political and military authority to carry out acts of sexual violence” against the country’s citizens. The designations target James Nando, a major general in the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, and Alfred Futuyo, Western Equatoria governor involved with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Mexico-based Hernandez Salas transnational criminal organization, a human smuggling group, and several of its members and affiliated entities. The June 16 designations target Mexican national Ofelia Hernandez Salas, the organization’s leader, and Mexican nationals Raul Saucedo Huipio, Jesus Gerardo Chavez Tamayo, Fatima Del Rocio Maldonado Lopez and Federico Hernandez Sanchez for working with the organization. OFAC also sanctioned Mexican entities Hotel Plaza and Hotel Las Torres to “conduct human smuggling activities.”

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week updated a Russia-related entry on its Specially Designated Nationals List. The entry is Hong Kong-based Gold Miles Limited, which was sanctioned in May as part of the Biden administration’s rollout of more than 300 new designations targeting supporters of Russia (see 2305190059). Gold Miles was designated for being owned by Irish national John Desmond Hanafin, founder of a company that OFAC said has helped move Russian money into the United Arab Emirates to protect it from Western sanctions.