The House of Representatives on Sept. 20 passed two sanctions bills, including one that could lead to more designations of Russian officials and oligarchs. The bills were grouped as part of a broader legislative package that passed 361-69.
Two senators plan to introduce a bill that would impose mandatory sanctions against any foreign financial entity not complying with the G-7's and EU’s upcoming price cap on Russian oil. The bill, which is still being drafted, has bipartisan support on Capitol Hill but not from the Treasury Department, with one official suggesting the legislation is unnecessary.
The U.K., in a Sept. 16 notice, made a host of changes to its Russia sanctions regime listings. The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation replaced Arkady Romanovich Rotenberg's entry with one that lists him as the previous chairman of the House of Prosvescheniye and previous owner of Stroygazmontazh. OFSI removed the entity Zao Interavtomatika (IA) from the consolidated list, and deleted two duplicates from the sanctions regime. The duplicate listings were for Leonid Eduardovich Slutsky and Vladimir Abdualievich Vasiliev. OFSI also amended 118 entries, still subjecting them to an asset freeze.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week updated its restricted aircraft list by adding three Iranian-owned and operated planes for violating U.S. export controls after they provided flight services to Russia. The planes -- owned by Mahan Air, Qeshm Fars Air and Iran Air -- are the first Iranian aircraft added to the list and are now subject to certain maintenance and repair restrictions and other prohibitions outlined in General Prohibition 10 of the Export Administration Regulations.
Switzerland added three individuals to its Russia sanctions regime, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs announced. The individuals are Alla Viktorovna Polyakova and Tkachev Anton Olegovich, members of the Russian State Duma, as well as Valery Andreevich Ponomarev, member of the Russian Federation Council, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs said. The move follows the EU's adding of the three to its sanctions regime.
The EU renewed until March 15 its individual sanctions on people and entities responsible for undermining the sovereignty of Ukraine, the European Council announced Sept. 14. The current restrictions amount to a travel ban, asset freeze and ban on making funds available to the listed parties, and apply to 1,206 individuals and 108 entities. Many of the listed parties were added to the restrictions regime for their roles in the Russian war in Ukraine.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated 22 individuals and two entities connected with Russia's war in Ukraine. The designated individuals have furthered Russia's objectives in Ukraine, both before and during the invasion, OFAC said in a Sept. 15 notice. “Today we’re taking steps to further degrade Russia’s ability to rebuild its military, hold perpetrators of violence accountable, and further financially isolate Putin," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a news release.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Sept. 15 issued two determinations to restrict certain quantum computing-related activities with Russia. One directive, effective immediately, imposes sanctions on Russia's quantum computing sector. The second directive, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Oct. 15, will prohibit the exportation, reexportation, sale or supply of quantum computing services to Russia. The prohibitions aim to "further degrade Russia’s ability to reconstitute its military with advanced technology," OFAC said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week announced a host of measures to expand its export restrictions against Russia and Belarus, including an expansion of its Russian industry sector sanctions to add new export controls on lower-level items. The agency also expanded its military and military intelligence end-user controls, applied its Russian-Belarusian MEU foreign direct product rule to additional entities, added additional dollar value exclusion thresholds for certain luxury goods exports and more.
The European Commission updated its consolidated and intellectual property rights frequently asked questions pages related to its Russia sanctions regime. Nine new FAQs deal with the verification of whether an IPR applicant or a party in opposition or invalidity proceedings is listed; IPR registrations filed by listed individuals or entities before their date of inclusion; and whether EU and member state IP offices should suspend requests from designated individuals and entities.