The Office of Foreign Assets Control updated its Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations and added a general license authorizing certain U.S. government activities with Nicaragua, a notice said. The notice incorporates the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018 into the regulations, which includes certain technical edits and the addition of the “delegation of certain functions with respect to the NHRAA,” OFAC said. It also expands a provision of the regulations to include more clarity on blocked transactions and incorporates a previously issued general license that authorizes certain Nicaragua-related activities. The rule is effective July 17.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on July 16 extended the expiration dates for two Ukraine-related general licenses that authorize certain transactions with U.S.-sanctioned GAZ Group. Both licenses were scheduled to expire July 22 and now expire Jan. 22, 2021. General License No. 13O, which replaces No. 13N, authorizes certain transactions necessary to divestments and debt transfers. General License No. 15I, which replaces No. 15H, authorizes certain transactions related to the “manufacture and sale of existing and new models of vehicles” -- including components, engines and commercial vehicles -- produced by GAZ Group.
The U.S. Embassy in Libya threatened sanctions against people, governments and entities causing violence in Libya and disrupting the country’s economy. In a July 12 statement, the embassy said “foreign-backed efforts against Libya’s economic and financial sectors” have affected the country’s National Oil Corporation and “heightened the risk of confrontation.” The embassy specifically mentioned attacks by Wagner mercenaries -- controlled by the U.S.-sanctioned, Russia-based PMC Wagner -- against NOC facilities. “Those who undermine Libya’s economy and cling to military escalation will face isolation and risk of sanctions,” the embassy said.
The U.S. authorized new sanctions against Russia’s Nord Stream 2 and other Russian pipelines (see 1912190075), clearing the way for designations of people and entities associated with Russian gas projects, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. Those involved with the project may now be subject to sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, Pompeo said during a July 15 news conference.
The Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, which includes the U.S., sanctioned four entities and two people for providing financial support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the Treasury Department said July 15. The TFTC -- which also includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- targeted companies that have offered the Islamic State a “critical financial and logistical lifeline,” Treasury said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on July 15 updated a Venezuela-related general license and amended a Venezuela-related frequently asked question. General License No. 5D, which replaced No. 5C, authorizes certain transactions related to Petroleos de Venezuela involving an 8.5% bond on or after Oct. 20. The FAQ clarifies which transactions are authorized by the license.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned three people and five entities involved in helping a Russian financier evade U.S. sanctions, OFAC said in a July 15 press release. The sanctions target Russia-based M Invest, its subsidiary Meroe Gold and two M Invest officials: Andrei Mandel and Mikhail Potepkin. OFAC also targeted Hong Kong-based Shine Dragon Group Limited, Shen Yang Jing Cheng Machinery Imp & Exp. Co., Zhe Jiang Jiayi Small Commodities Trade Company Limited and Shine Dragon Group director Igor Lavrenkov.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation corrected 49 entries in its Libya sanctions regime, a July 14 notice said. The U.K. revised identifying information for each of the entries to bring them “into line” with European Union sanctions.
China will sanction Lockheed Martin for its involvement in a $620 million arms sale to Taiwan (see 2007090078), China’s Foreign Ministry said July 14, according to an unofficial translation of the transcript of a press conference. A ministry spokesperson called on the U.S. to stop the sale, which includes the recertification of advanced missiles to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. “In order to safeguard national interests, China decided to take necessary measures to impose sanctions on Lockheed Martin, the main contractor in this arms sales case,” the spokesperson said, adding that further military sales will “damage” U.S.-China relations.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on July 10 removed five entries and amended one entry under four sanctions regimes. The U.K. removed from its sanctions lists Ri Pyong Chol, North Korea; Fahd Jasim Al-Furayj, Syria; Col. Mas’ud Abdulhafiz, Libya; and Robert Kibelisa and Lambert Mende, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The U.K. also revised an entry for Ahmed Al-Jarroucheh under its Syria sanctions.