A U.N. aviation organization last week called on Russia to “immediately cease its infractions of international aviation rules,” including its attempts to acquire aircraft parts in violation of western sanctions. The European Commission applauded the statement from the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization, which informed its 193 member states about “Russia's blatant non-respect of crucial international aviation law.” EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said the ICAO’s comments point "to another example of Russia's blatant disregard of international rules and standards, putting the lives of people at risk, including Russian citizens.” The EU and others have placed export restrictions on a range of items and services in the aviation sector, and the U.S. has issued several temporary denial orders against Russian airlines for violating U.S. export controls (see 2208020018).
The EU last week sanctioned two additional people associated with Russia’s war in Ukraine. The designations target Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych, a Russia supporter and former president of Ukraine, and Oleksandr Viktorovych Yanukovych, his son.
Switzerland banned buying, importing or transporting gold and gold products from Russia, it announced in an Aug. 3 sanctions move. The Swiss Federal Council also imposed an asset freeze on Sberbank and carved out two new exceptions from the sanctions regime over agricultural products and oil supplies to third countries. Previously, Switzerland added 54 individuals and nine entities to its Russia sanctions list on July 28. With this week's decision, Switzerland said it's now in line with the EU's sanctions regime.
Although the U.S. and its allies should form a new multilateral export control regime that could be used to penalize Beijing if it invades Taiwan (see 2206100021), it remains unclear how many allies would be willing to go along with new China sanctions, panelists told a congressional commission this week. Some countries in Europe and Asia may have an interest in joining together to deter Beijing, the experts said, but imposing severe multilateral export controls against China would be more challenging than imposing similar measures against Moscow.
The U.K. added two entries, removed one and amended 18 others under its Russia sanctions regime. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation Aug. 2 notice said the U.K. re-added two Rosneft Oil board members -- Didier Casimiro and Zeljko Runje -- to the list, subjecting them to an asset freeze and travel ban. The Rosneft executives had been dropped from the list in July. OFSI delisted Olga Ayziman.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week suspended the export privileges of a Venezuela-based cargo airline for violating U.S. export controls. The agency said Empresa de Transporte Aereocargo del Sur, also known as Aerocargo del Sur Transportation or EMTRASUR, acquired “custody” of a U.S.-origin Boeing aircraft from Mahan Air -- a sanctioned Iranian airline (see 2205160035) -- and illegally flew that plane between Venezuela, Iran and Russia.
Canada this week announced new sanctions on 43 Russian military officials and 17 entities that are “complicit” in Russia’s war in Ukraine. The entities include organizations in Russia’s science, research, shipbuilding and engineering sectors.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a new round of sanctions targeting Kremlin-connected elites and businesses that generate "substantial revenue for the Russian regime, OFAC said in an Aug. 2 news release. Thirteen individuals, 36 entities and two vessels were added to OFAC's Speacially Designated Nationals List.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week updated its restricted aircraft list with 25 foreign-produced planes that have violated U.S. export controls. BIS said the commercial planes -- which are the first foreign-produced aircraft added to the list -- violated the Export Administration Regulations’ de minimis threshold for U.S. components by flying into Russia or Belarus. The agency also updated various tail numbers and serial numbers for other listed planes.