The United Kingdom's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation published guidance to individuals, entities and nongovernmental organizations on the recently passed anti-corruption sanctions, the agency said in an April 26 news release. The sanctions, which came into force April 26, cover individuals guilty of “serious corruption,” which includes bribery or misappropriation of property.
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The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation last week published a blog post on its licensing process. The post provides guidance on best practices when submitting a license, which licenses OSFI prioritizes, how the agency’s procedures and licenses have changed under the U.K.’s newly implemented sanctions regimes, and several “top tips” for license applicants.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on April 23 removed more than 40 entries from its Specially Designated Nationals List. The entries all had Mexican addresses and were sanctioned under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. Treasury didn’t immediately provide more information on the delistings.
The U.S. has made “some progress” in its discussions to return to the Iran nuclear deal but expects a lengthy process involving multiple rounds of talks with European partners, a State Department Official told reporters this week. After speaking with the United Nations Security Council, the official said, the U.S. and Iran both have a “better idea” of what they need to do to fully rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. But “clarification doesn’t necessarily mean consensus,” the official said April 21. “There still are disagreements” and “the distance that remains to be traveled is greater than the distance that we’ve traveled so far.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on April 21 sanctioned two Myanmar state-owned entities that are “key economic resources” for the Myanmar military. The designations target Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE) and Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (MPE), which are responsible for timber and pearl exports from Myanmar, OFAC said. OFAC also deleted 15 Panama-related entries on its Specially Designated Nationals List. The agency didn’t provide more information on the deletions.
The European Council announced the alignment of a group of European countries with the European Union's restrictive measures against Myanmar officials and entities for their role in the nation's Feb. 1 coup. In an April 19 news release, the council said North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine and Moldova will now subject the listed groups to an asset freeze and travel ban.
The European Union expanded sanctions on Myanmar to include an additional 10 individuals and two military-controlled companies. The European Council added Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Co. Ltd. and Myanmar Economic Corp. Ltd. for their role in the Feb. 1 coup and subsequent repression “undermining democracy and the rule of law” in Myanmar, an April 19 news release said. The listed individuals, as published in the council decision, are Mahn Nyein Muang, Thein Nynt, Khin Maung Swe, Aye Nu Sein, Jeng Phang Naw Htaung, Maung Ha, Sai Long Hseng, Saw Daniel, Banyar Aung Moe and U Chit Naing. Sanctions are now placed on 35 individuals and two companies with all listed parties subject to an asset freeze and a travel ban.
The United Nations Security Council renewed its restrictions on Libyan petroleum products and extended the mandate for the panel of experts that oversees Libyan sanctions and embargoes, it said in an April 16 news release. The council unanimously voted to extend the restrictions on the “illicit export of crude oil and other petroleum products” from Libya until July 30, 2022, and extended the mandate of the panel of experts until Aug. 15, 2022. It also called on member states to continue complying with the U.N. arms embargo against the country. The council last year extended a measure to allow member states to inspect certain vessels for violating the Libyan arms embargo (see 2006080013).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control will revoke a Belarus-related general license that authorizes certain transactions with nine sanctioned state-owned entities, OFAC and the State Department said April 19. OFAC issued Belarus General License 2H, replacing License 2G (see 1910220027), which authorizes a 45-day wind-down period for transactions with those entities and any entities in which they own at least 50%. The wind-down period will end 12:01 a.m. June 3.
The United Nations Security Council removed six Iraq-related entries from its sanctions list, an April 15 news release said. The entries are: the General Establishment for Bakeries and Ovens, the General Establishment for Flour Mills, the Iraqi State Export Organization, the Iraqi State Import Organization, the State Trading Enterprise for Equipment and Hand Tools and the State Trading Enterprise for Machinery.