Monthly Archives: January 2024

Cybersecurity ISIS-experts were revealed

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated cybersecurity experts affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

These persons supported the terrorist group’s recruitment and provided ISIS leadership with cybersecurity training.

The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

  • AL-SAYYID, Sarah Jamal Muhammad. She helped her partner, Mu’min Al-Mawji, establish EHF. Sarah Jamal recruited other ISIS members to join ISIS-affiliated platform Electronic Horizons Foundation (EHF) and procured web servers to host ISIS platforms on behalf of EHF. DOB 07 Jul 1985; POB Egypt; nationality Egypt; Gender Female.
  • GUZEL, Faruk. He received multiple transfers from a group of ISIS supporters for individuals associated with ISIS in Syria via a money remittance service. DOB 01 Oct 1968; POB Malatya, Turkey; nationality Turkey; Gender Male.
  • SALIM, Mu’min al-Mawji Mahmud. He is the creator of EHF, which provides cybersecurity guidance and training to ISIS supporters. DOB 16 Oct 1991; POB Egypt; nationality Egypt; Gender Male.

The US has exposed an Iranian transnational group of assassins

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The US has exposed an Iranian transnational group of assassins

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on a network of individuals that targeted Iranian dissidents. The network is headed by Iranian narcotics trafficker Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti (Zindashti).

According to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota documents, Zindashti and two Canadian nationals conspired with each other in a plot to murder two residents of the state of Maryland.

The intended victims of this plot, who at the time resided in Maryland, had previously fled to the United States after one of them defected from Iran.

Zindashti and his team of gunmen used an encrypted messaging service called “SkyECC” to orchestrate an assassination plot against two individuals

Zindashti resides in Iran, two members of his network are currently incarcerated in Canada.

The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota

The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

  • AL-MOUSSAWI, Hamad. DOB 12 May 1970; POB Baghdad, Iraq; nationality Iraq; Gender Male.
  • ASAN, Nihat Abdul Kadir. He is a close Zindashti associate also based in Iran. DOB 01 Oct 1981; alt. DOB 11 Nov 1981; POB Van, Turkey; nationality Iran.
  • ESFANJANI, Ali. DOB 15 Aug 1985; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male.
  • HAMIDIRAVARI, Reza. He is an MOIS (Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security) officer, oversees Zindashti’s MOIS-directed operations. DOB 31 Oct 1963; nationality Iran.
  • KOCAK, Abdulvahap. DOB 09 Sep 1999; POB Adiyaman, Turkey; nationality Turkey.
  • KOCAK, Ali. DOB 30 Sep 1985; POB Adiyaman Kahta, Turkey; nationality Turkey.
  • NASERZADEH, Muhammad Reza. DOB 01 Jan 1978; nationality Iran.
  • OZTUNC, Ekrem Abdulkerym. Zindashti’s nephew. DOB 07 Oct 1984; POB Yuksekova, Turkey; nationality Turkey.
  • PEARSON, Adam Richard. He was recruited to assassinate individuals in the United States.DOB 14 May 1994; alt. DOB 28 Apr 1995; POB Canada; nationality Canada.
  • RYAN, Damion Patrick John. Canadian national and British Columbia-based Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Group member. In 2021, Zindashti’s network recruited him to assassinate individuals in the United States. DOB 14 Oct 1980; POB Canada; nationality Canada.
  • SHARIFI-ZINDASHTI, Naji Ibrahim. DOB 31 May 1974; POB Orumiyeh, Iran; nationality Iran.
  • TAMARZADEH ZAVIEH JAKKI, Shahram Ali Reza. He is Zindashti’s brother-in-law. DOB 31 May 1972; nationality Iran.

Iraqi budget airline Fly Baghdad has suspended flights after being sanctioned

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Iraqi budget airline Fly Baghdad has suspended flights after being sanctioned

The Fly Baghdad’s statement decided to halt all flights in compliance with the decision of the Iraqi government.

“At present time, we cannot access our bank accounts, so it is not possible for Fly Baghdad to refund cancelled tickets or book tickets for passengers on other airlines,” the carrier said.

The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the airline on January 22, 2024 for providing materiel support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

It is known that the airline has business ties with Russia. On October 12, 2023, Fly Baghdad began operating flights on the Baghdad — Moscow (Russia) — Baghdad route.

The airline’s fleet consists of two Boeing 737-700 aircraft, two Boeing 737-800 aircraft, one B737-900ER aircraft, and one Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft.

The Council of the EU has renewed sanctions on the Russian Federation

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The Council of the European Union has renewed economic sanctions on the Russian Federation

These sanctions, first introduced in 2014 in response to Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, were significantly expanded since February 2022. They consist of a broad spectrum of sectoral measures, including restrictions on trade, finance, technology and dual-use goods, industry, transport and luxury goods.

They also cover: a ban on the import or transfer of seaborne crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU, a de-SWIFTing of several Russian banks.

Since 24 February 2022, the EU has adopted 12 packages of sanctions in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctions do not block the export of and transactions related to food and agricultural products. Besides, EU member states can authorise overflight of their airspace by Russian aircraft if that is required for humanitarian purposes.

The European Union has banned four Russian persons

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The Council of the EU has added four persons and one entity to EU sanctions list.

The new listings include the Russian para-governmental Safe Internet League, Ekaterina Mizulina, the Chairwoman of the Safe Internet League and three persons employed in the Russian judicial system.

Those listed under the sanctions regime are subject to an asset freeze, and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit, is prohibited. Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to the natural persons listed.

The following persons and entity have been added to the sanctions list:

  • Ekaterina Mikhailovna Mizulina. DOB: 1.9.1984. POB: Yaroslavl, Russian SFSR (now Russian Federation). Nationality: Russian. Gender: female. Associated individuals: Elena Borisovna Mizulina; Konstantin Valerevich Malofeev. Ekaterina Mizulina is the Chairwoman of the Safe Internet League. In this position, she is enforcing censorship practices against Internet content creators and artists in favour of the Russian government and its policies.
  • Valentina Evgenievna Levashova. DOB: 14.10.1978. Nationality: Russian. Gender: female. Valentina Levashova is a judge at the Basmanniy District Court of Moscow. She is a representative of the judiciary who made biased decisions in politically motivated cases, including in the case against Vladimir Kara-Murza. Kara-Murza is a prominent opposition activist in Russia, in April 2023, he was sentenced to 25 years in a high-security prison/labour camp.
  • Oleg Viktorovich Alypov. DOB: 7.3.1981. Nationality: Russian. Gender: male. Oleg Alypov is the Golovinsky Interdistrict Prosecutor of Moscow.
  • Ludmila Mikhailovna Smolkina. DOB: 6.8.1961. Nationality: Russian. Gender: female. Ludmila Smolkina is a Judge at the Moscow City Court.
  • Safe Internet League. Safe Internet League is a Russian para-governmental organisation co-founded by the owner of the Tsargrad TV channel Konstantin Malofeev, with support from the Russian government. Safe Internet League is trying to make Internet content creators and artists either to delete anti-government content or to create content in favour of the Russian government and praising its policies.

The U.S. and UK sanctioned Houthi military officials

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The United States with the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on four military officials of Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, who have supported the Houthis’ recent attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Today’s joint action with the United Kingdom demonstrates our collective action to leverage all authorities to stop these attacks”

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson

The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

AL-ATIFI, Mohamed, the so-called Houthi “Minister of Defense,” has publicly stated that the Houthis will “turn the Red Sea into a graveyard”. Yemen; DOB 1969; POB Bani Atef Village, Sanaa Governorate, Yemen; nationality Yemen; Gender Male.

AL-NABI, Muhammad Fadl Abd, is the so-called “Commander” of the Houthis’ maritime forces. Yemen; DOB 01 Jan 1952; nationality Yemen; Gender Male.

AL-QADIRI, Muhammad Ali, the so-called Houthi “Coastal Defense Forces Chief” and “Director of the Houthi Naval College,” was tasked with executing attacks against vessels in the Red Sea. Yemen; DOB 1970; POB Hudaydah Governorate, Yemen; nationality Yemen; Gender Male.

AL-TALIBI, Muhammad Ahmad, who serves as the so-called “Director of Procurement” for the Houthi forces, leads the Houthis’ efforts to smuggle Iranian-provided weapons, missiles, UAVs. Yemen; DOB 01 Jan 1983; POB Dhahyan, Sa’dah, Yemen; nationality Yemen; Gender Male.

PACE resolves not to ratify the credentials of the delegation of Azerbaijan

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The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has resolved not to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation, which were challenged on the opening day of the session, concluding that the country has “not fulfilled major commitments” stemming from its joining the Council of Europe 20 years ago.

“The Assembly deplores that more than 20 years after joining the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan has not fulfilled major commitments stemming therefrom … Moreover, the Assembly strongly regrets that it has not been invited to observe the forthcoming presidential election despite Azerbaijan’s obligation to send such an invitation as the country is under monitoring procedure,” the Assembly said in a resolution.

The resolution was adopted today with 76 votes in favour, 10 against and 4 abstentions.

“The delegation of Azerbaijan may resume its activities in the Assembly when conditions provided by the Rules of Procedure are met,” said the parliamentarians.

The decision concerns only the credentials of the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation. Azerbaijan continues to be a full member of the Council of Europe.

“The delegation of Azerbaijan strongly rejects the initiation of the challenge, on the substantial grounds, of its still unratified credentials. We are of the view this initiative is a clear manifestation of deep-rooted bias and prejudice against Azerbaijan as an independent and sovereign nation… The refusal to ratify the credentials of our delegation will be a serious blow to the authority of the PACE and the Council of Europe in general, and the responsibility for its serious consequences lies with the initiators of this short-sighted move”

Samad Seyidov (Azerbaijan), member of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe

The Lithuanian Customs reported searches at Jurby WaterTech

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Jurby WaterTech JSC is suspected of violating international sanctions against Russia.

In 2023, Lithuanian customs detained a shipment of water filtration equipment that Jurby WaterTech intended to deliver to China for an Italian company operating there.

Lithuanian customs assumes that this equipment should have been delivered to Russia. The equipment can be used at oil producing enterprises and metallurgical plants.

The co-owner of Jurby WaterTech is a citizen of Belize Viktoras Redko.

Russian Cybercriminal Alexander Ermakov: What is He?

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Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions against the Russian cybercriminal Alexander Ermakov responsible for hacking Medibank – the first trilateral sanctions against a Russian hacker.

Sanctions lists have collected data about that cybercriminal.

Aleksandr Gennadievich Ermakov had been born on 16.05.1990. Nowadays, he is also known as GustaveDore; aiiis_ermak; blade_runner and JimJones.

Aleksandr Ermakov / Photo: dfat.gov.au

In October 2022, Aleksandr Ermakov hacked the Medibank network, one of Australia’s largest private health insurers, covering over 3.9 million people with over 4,000 employees, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said in a statement.

During the attack, Aleksandr Ermakov stole Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and sensitive health information linked to approximately 9.7 million customers and authorized representatives.

Aleksandr Ermakov / Photo: dfat.gov.au

Aleksandr Ermakov and the other actors are believed to be linked to the Russia-backed cybercrime gang Revil (Ransomware Evil, also known as Sodinokibi). REvil was among the most notorious cybercrime gangs in the world until July 2021 when they disappeared.

Australia has imposed counter-terrorism fsanctions on 12 persons and 3 entities

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Australia has imposed further counter-terrorism financing sanctions on 12 persons and three entities linked to Hamas, Hizballah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Those sanctioned include Hamas leaders, financial facilitators, and persons who have provided training to terrorist operatives, as well as three entities that have facilitated the transfer of funds to Hamas.

Sanctioning and publicly listing these 12 persons and three entities for counter-terrorism financing sanctions shows they have engaged in the support and facilitation of terrorism.

Once listed for sanctions, it is a criminal offence to use or deal with the person or entity’s assets, or to make assets available to them. This is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and/or heavy fines.

Sanctions have been imposed on the following entities and persons:

  • Al Zawaya Group for Development and Investment Sociedad Limitada
  • Larrycom for Investment Ltd
  • شركة مجموعة زوايا للتنمية والإستثمار المحدودة
  • Akram Al-Ajouri (‘Abd al-Karim Ahmad Hasan)
  • Ali Abed Al Rahman Baraka
  • Khaled Qaddoumi (Khaled Farid Ahmed Assad)
  • Mahmoud Khaled Zahhar
  • Maher Rebhi Obeid
  • Ali Morshed Shirazi
  • Mostafa Mohammad Khani
  • Mohammad Deif
  • Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar
  • Nabil Khaled Halil Chouman
  • Khaled Chouman
  • Reda Ali Khamis