Monthly Archives: February 2024

Baltic countries signed a cooperation agreement for implementation of trade sanctions

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The agreement was signed by customs authorities of the Baltic countries.

“The common goal of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is to ensure that prohibited goods and technology do not reach Russia or Belarus”

Ursula Riimaa, the Deputy Director General for Customs at the Estonian Tax and Customs Board

According to the agreement, control of border crossings will be strengthened in order to improve the security of the eastern border of the EU and to help those crossing the border, including businesses, to better navigate the restrictive measures in place.

Canada has imposed sanctions on Hamas leaders

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Canada has imposed new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA impose a prohibition on dealings related to the listed individuals and entities, effectively freezing any assets they may have in Canada). The sanctions apply to leaders and members of Hamas which are responsible for terrorist attacks against Israel.

Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs / Photo: The government of Canada

“Canada unequivocally condemns Hamas’s terrorist attack against Israel, its unacceptable treatment of hostages and its heinous use of sexual and gender-based violence as a tactic of war”

Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Canada recognizes Israel’s right to assure its own security.

The names of the individuals added to the schedule of these regulations are the following:

  • Yahya Sinwar, leader (Hamas)
  • Muhammed Deif, military leader (Hamas)
  • Marwan Issa, deputy military commander (Hamas)
  • Maher Rebhi Namer Obeid, leader (Hamas)
  • Jihad Muhammad Shaker Yaghmour, member (Hamas)
  • Nizar Mohammed Awadallah, member (Hamas)
  • Mahmoud al-Zahar, leader (Hamas)
  • Hassan al-Wardian, member (Hamas)
  • Ayman Nofal, military commander (Hamas)
  • Akram al-Ajouri, military leader (Palestinian Islamic Jihad)
  • Aiman Ahmad al-Duwaik, member (Hamas)

13th sanction package against Russia: Russian media fears

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13th sanction package against Russia of EU sanctions is expected by February 24, this forecast was given by the Belgian foreign affairs minister Hadja Lahbib.

Sanctions lists have summarized all fears of Russian media what could be included in the new package:

  1. Personal sanctions against 200 individuals and legal entities, probably those associated with the defense industry.
  2. New restrictions for foreign companies to work with Russian organizations, which may be regarded as assistance in circumventing sanctions.
  3. Ban on aluminum imports from Russia (in Europe, the share of Russian aluminum reaches 9%).
  4. The ban on Russian diplomats from traveling to all EU countries. Diplomats will be allowed to travel only within the country in which they are accredited.

The US hits transnational procurement network supporting Iran

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong-based companies that had helped to Iran’s ballistic missile and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programs, including the Shahed-series UAV.

“Iran’s continued proliferation of its advanced conventional weapons, including the UAVs and missiles that target U.S. soldiers”

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

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

  • ADVANTAGE TRADING CO., LIMITED. Shop 185, Ground Floor, Hang Wai Ind. Centre, No. 6 Kin Tai St., Tuen Mun, N.T., Hong Kong, China. That company was used to procure microelectronics and aviation parts with UAV applications.
  • CHINA OIL AND PETROLEUM COMPANY LIMITED (COPC). RM702, 7/F Waga Comm Ctr 99, Wellington St. Central, Hong Kong, China. COPC sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian commodities for the benefit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
  • DULING TECHNOLOGY HK LIMITED, Room 4, 16th Floor, Ho King Comm Ctr, 2-16 Fayuen St, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. The company has facilitated procurements of U.S.- and Western-origin matrix switches, turbine engines, and other items.
  • FY INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO., LIMITED. Flat 2002C, 20F, Multifield Commercial Centre, 426 Shanghai Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. The company has facilitated procurements of U.S.- and Western-origin matrix switches, turbine engines, and other items.
  • NARIN SEPEHR MOBIN ISATIS. Tehran Pars, Shahid Mahmoudreza Okhovat (123) St, Shahid Ghasem Soleymani Highway, No. 48, 4th Floor, Unit 14, Tehran, Iran.

Besides, OFAC has sanctioned six officials in the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cyber-Electronic Command, an Iranian government organization responsible for a series of malicious cyber activities against cinfrastructure in the US and other countries.

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

  • HOMAYUNFAL, Hamid. DOB 14 Feb 1987; nationality Iran; Gender Male.
  • LASHGARIAN, Hamid Reza. Iran; DOB 21 Mar 1961; nationality Iran; Gender Male.
  • LASHGARIAN, Mahdi. Iran; DOB 02 Jun 1989; nationality Iran; Gender Male.
  • MANSURI, Milad. Iran; DOB 11 Sep 1989; nationality Iran; Gender Male.
  • SABERIAN, Reza Mohammad Amin. Iran; DOB 01 Feb 1980; nationality Iran; Gender Male.
  • SHIRINKAR, Mohammad Bagher. Iran; DOB 21 Sep 1979; nationality Iran.

The United States has imposed sanctions on four Israeli nationals

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The United States decided to support stability in the West Bank and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

“There is no justification for extremist violence against civilians, whatever their national origin, ethnicity, or religion“

Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State

The Department of State has imposed financial sanctions on four Israeli individuals connected to violence against civilians in the West Bank.

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

  • CHASDAI, David Chai. DOB 23 Nov 1994; POB Israel; nationality Israel. He initiated and led a riot, which involved setting vehicles and buildings on fire, assaulting Palestinian civilians
  • TANJIL, Einan. DOB 05 Jul 2002; POB Israel; nationality Israel; Gender Male. He was involved in assaulting Palestinian farmers and Israeli activists by attacking them with stones and clubs, resulting in injuries that required medical treatment.
  • ZICHERMAN, Shalom. DOB 03 Feb 1991; POB Israel; nationality Israel; Gender Male. He attempted to break the windows of passing vehicles with activists inside. Zicherman cornered at least two of the activists and injured both
  • LEVI, Yinon. DOB 19 Dec 1992; POB Israel; nationality Israel; Gender Male. He led groups of settlers from the Meitarim Farm outpost that assaulted Palestinian and Bedouin civilians, threatened them with additional violence if they did not leave their homes, burned their fields, and destroyed their property.

The U.S. goverment has sanctioned companies in Burma

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned two entities associated with Burma’s military regime and four military cronies

On February 1, 2021, Burma’s military forces overthrew the democratically elected government and removed the civilian government leaders from power.

“The United States, along with our allies and partners, will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit from, and provide support for, the violent oppression of the people of Burma.”

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

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

  • MIN, Tin Latt. DOB 15 Jun 1968; nationality Burma; Gender Female. She is a Burmese national that owns or controls, alongside her husband Thein Win Zaw and their adult children Theint Win Htet and Win Paing Kyaw
  • ZAW, Thein Win. DOB 02 Feb 1963; POB Twantay, Burma; nationality Burma.
  • HTET, Theint Win. DOB 21 May 1999; nationality Burma; Gender Female.
  • KYAW, Win Paing DOB 29 May 1996; nationality Burma; Gender Male.

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

  • MYANMA FIVE STAR LINE COMPANY LIMITED. Burma; Organization Established Date 25 Jun 2010. This is a shipping agent for the OFAC-designated Directorate of Defense Industries, and ships material essential to domestic weapons production by Burma’s military.
  • SHWE BYAIN PHYU GROUP OF COMPANIES. Burma; Organization Established Date 1996. Since its establishment, SBPG has developed a historic relationship with Burma’s military to import and distribute petroleum

All property and interests in property of the persons named above that are in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked. Any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.

In addition to the United States, Australia has imposed its own sanctions. Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank, will be subject to targeted financial sanctions. Three entities that supply jet fuel to the military regime, Asia Sun Group, Asia Sun Trading Co Ltd, and Cargo Link Petroleum Logistics Co Ltd, will also be subject to targeted financial sanctions.