Author Archives: Miroslaw Kozlowski

Croatia joins the customs agreement between the Baltic States, Poland and Finland

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On July 3, 2024, in Brussels, Croatia joined the customs agreement of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland regarding the application of uniform control measures for sanctions.

In January, the heads of the customs authorities of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia approved an agreement on common control measures in these countries, and on 9 May this year, Poland and Finland joined this agreement.

“Lithuania has consistently sought to reduce the risk of circumventing sanctions against Russia and Belarus in all EU countries. We are pleased that Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and Finland have joined our initiative, and now Croatia will begin implementing this agreement,” said Darius Žvironas, Director General of the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania.

The customs authorities of the signatory countries have to strengthen control over goods subject to export bans and restrictions, and apply uniform measures such as the requirement to submit a document or information from the manufacturer of exported or re-exported goods to Customs.

Customs will also require other documents denying the possibility of importing goods into Russia or ways to circumvent sanctions.

UniCredit S.p.A. wants clarity about the business reduction in Russia

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A pan-European commercial bank, UniCredit S.p.A (“UniCredit” or “UCI”) has claimed that it has made an application to the General Court of the European Union to obtain definitive legal clarification of the obligations set by the European Central Bank’s requirements to further reduce the risks associated with UniCredit’s activities in Russia, carried out by subsidiaries including UniCredit Bank Russia.

According to UniCredit, the bank wants clarity about obligations it must abide by reducing its presence in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022.

“The unprecedented circumstances, the complexities inherent in the geo-political and economic scenario and the lack of a harmonized regulatory framework applicable to it and the potential for serious unintended consequences of implementing the decision that would impact not only the Russian subsidiaries but UniCredit S.p.A., compel the Board of Directors of UniCredit to seek for clarity,” the bank informed.

UniCredit S.P.A. noted that it had reduced business in Russia, but financial results approved an increase in its profit.

According to the results of the first quarter of 2024, UniCredt Bank Russia made a profit of 20.105 billion rubles (approximately 20 million euros). In 2023, this result was lower – only 15.538 billion rubles.

JetBrains blocks its software for Russian IT specialists

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JetBrains, an international company that develops interfaces for programming in Java, Kotlin, C#, F#, C++, Ruby, Python, PHP, and JavaScript, no longer allows Russian users to download one of its most popular products, IntelliJ IDEA.

Users from Russia have tried to download the app in real time, but they received a message saying “Unavailable for legal reasons. We are sorry, but we are currently unable to provide you with our products or services due to export control regulations”.

JetBrains was founded in 2000 by three Russian developers, Sergei Dmitriev, Valentin Kipyatkov, and Eugene Belyaev, initially known as IntelliJ Software.

In 2022, the company began to withdraw from Russia and sold its office in St. Petersburg. Today, JetBrains has over 11 million users who use its tools.

The E.U. strengths sanctions on Belarus

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The Council of the European Union has announced new sanctions on Belarus in support of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. These new restrictive measures affect some sectors of Belarus’ economy.

Firstly, the EU Council extended the ban on exports of dual-use goods and advanced technologies to Belarus. Additionally, restrictions were imposed on the export of luxury goods, maritime navigation goods, and technologies to the country.

Another hit was laid on certain services to Belarus such as accounting services, auditing services, architectural and engineering services advertising, market research and public opinion polling services. All of them are prohibited now.

Another blow was dealt to certain services in Belarus, such as accounting, auditing, architectural, engineering, advertising, market research, and public opinion poll services. These are now prohibited. In addition, the EU prohibits direct or indirect imports, purchases, or transfers of gold, diamonds, helium, coal, and mineral products, including crude oil, from Belarus.

The U.S. has blocked Kaspersky Lab. What kind of company is it? 

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Last week, the U.S., through the Department of Commerce, issued a final determination pursuant to Executive Order prohibiting Kaspersky Lab and its affiliates, subsidiaries, and parent companies from providing anti-virus software, cybersecurity products, or services in the United States or to U.S.-based entities.

The second action was taken by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which designated twelve individuals who hold executive or senior leadership positions at Kaspersky.

What were the reasons for these actions? The U. S. Department of Defense decided that the products and services offered by Kaspersky Lab and its corporate group pose an unacceptable risk to the national security and safety of US citizens. Additionally, the Department of Commerce has designated Kaspersky Lab as a partner for its cooperation with the Russian military and intelligence agencies.

Presently, Kaspersky Lab is a global company that operates in over 200 countries and territories, with 34 offices located in more than 30 countries. It produces cybersecurity solutions and services.

Kaspersky Lab was founded in 1997 by Eugene Kaspersky, his wife, and partners. In 2023, the company demonstrated strong performance with an 11% growth in net sales bookings. The global non-audited revenue of Kaspersky in 2013 amounted to $721 million USD.

Eugene Kaspersky and the former president of Russia Dmitry Medvedev / Phoho: kremlin.ru

The following individuals from Kaspersky Lab have been added to the OFAC sanctions list:

  • Andrei Gennadyevich Tikhonov is a member of the boards of directors of Kaspersky Lab.

Andrei Gennadyevich Tikhonov / Photo: kaspersky.ru

  • Daniil Sergeyevich Borshchev is a member of the boards of directors of Kaspersky Lab, Kaspersky Group, and Kaspersky Limited.
  • Andrei Anatolyevich Efremov is a member of the boards of directors of Kaspersky Lab and Kaspersky Group and is also the company’s Chief Business Development Officer.
  • Igor Gennadyevich Chekunov is a member of the boards of directors of Kaspersky Lab and Kaspersky Group and is the company’s Chief Legal Officer.
  • Andrey Petrovich Dukhvalov is Kaspersky Lab’s Vice President and Director of Future Technologies.
  • Andrei Anatolyevich Suvorov is Kaspersky Lab’s Head of Kaspersky Operating System Business Unit.
  • Denis Vladimirovich Zenkin is the Kaspersky Lab’s Head of Corporate Communications.
  • Marina Mikhaylovna Alekseeva is Kaspersky Lab’s Chief Human Resources Officer.
  • Mikhail Yuryevich Gerber is Kaspersky Lab’s Executive Vice President of Consumer Business.
  • Anton Mikhaylovich Ivanov heads Kaspersky Lab’s research and development department as the company’s Chief Technology Officer.
  • Kirill Aleksandrovich Astrakhan is Kaspersky Lab’s Executive Vice President for Corporate Business.
  • Anna Vladimirovna Kulashova is Kaspersky Lab’s Managing Director for Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The U.S. strikes one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico La Nueva Familia Michoacana

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The U.S. has sanctioned eight targets based in Mexico that are affiliated with La Nueva Familia Michoacana, which is one of the most violent cartels in the country.

“The opioid crisis, and especially the rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, has devastated communities and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans,” noted Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen.

treasury.gov

La Nueva Familia Michoacana trafficked mainly methamphetamine, but in recent years they have expanded into trafficking fentanyl. Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic piperidine opioid that is 20 to 40 times stronger than heroin.

treasury.gov

OFAC has decided to impose sanctions on the leaders of La Nueva Familia Michoacana: Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos, Josue Ramirez Carrera, Josue Lopez Hernandez, David Duran Alvarez, Uriel Tabares Martinez, Kevin Arzate Gomez , Euclides Camacho Goicochea and Lucio Ochoa Lagunes.

Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos controls the drug routes that pass from Ciudad Altamirano, Guerrero, Mexico to the Zihuatanejo-Lazaro Cardenas, Guerrero, Mexico area.

Josue Ramirez Carrera is a financial leader of La Nueva Familia Michoacana.

Josue Lopez Hernandez is a key lieutenant for La Nueva Familia Michoacana

David Duran Alvarez is known to send various drugs to Houston, Texas.

Uriel Tabares Martinez is a assassin, that works directly for Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga.

Kevin Arzate Gomez negotiates on behalf of the cartel to have drugs enter the United States.

Euclides Camacho Goicochea moves a significant amount of drugs, particularly methamphetamine, to Houston, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, among other area

Canada imposes sanctions on Russian officials in response to human rights violations

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The Canadian government has imposed new sanctions on Russian officials.

The head of the investigative department of the of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (the Investigative Committee is the federal state body performing in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation powers in the sphere of criminal trial) for Salekhard and his deputies Arslan Mushaev and Vasily Uzdyaev, Head of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area Andrey Egorov, together with his deputy Dmitry Tsymbalenko, are on the list of those who have been sanctioned

These individuals have been added to the sanctions list:

  • Andrey Nikolayevich EGOROV
  • Dmitry Ivanovich TSYMBALENKO
  • Edgar Manvelovich SEROPYAN
  • Sergey Vitalievich PATLATYUK
  • Arslan Nyamynovich MUSHAYEV
  • Vasily Viktorovich UZDYAEV
  • Dmitry Viktorovich SHAROVATOV
  • Aleksandr Vladimirovich FYODOROV
  • Ruslan Aleksandrovich SEMASHKO
  • Sergey Anatolyevich MOROZ
  • Elena Alekseevna KOROBKA
  • Aleksei Anatolyevich ALEKSANDROV
  • Yulia Mikhailovna POPOVA

The EU extends sanctions on Russia for further year

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The Council of the European Union decided to renew the sanctions imposed by the EU in response to the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia until June 23, 2025.

These sanctions were first imposed in June 2014 and include prohibitions on imports of products originating from Crimea or Sevastopol, as well as restrictions on infrastructure, financial investments and tourism services from these regions.

Additionally, exports of certain goods and technologies to companies based in Crimea, or for use within the transport, telecommunication and energy sectors, or for oil, gas and mining operations are also subject to restrictions from the EU.

According to the EU statement, the EU does not recognise and continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation as a violation of international law.

“Since 2022, Russia has further violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with its unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU remains steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression, and dedicated to fully implementing its non-recognition policy,” claimed the Council of the European Union.

A Chinese company unveiled its drone at a forum featuring Putin

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A Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer, Tsingaero Armaments, unveiled their drone, the JZ-550, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which took place in Russia from June 5-8.

SPIEF is Russia’s main economic forum, and every year, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, participates.

This time, all attendees could see a Chinese JZ-550 UAV placed near the entrance to the forum.

The JZ-550 is a product of Tsingaero, a synchrocopter with rotors angled to each other.

JZ-550 / Photo: SL

In March 2024, the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency claimed that Tsingaero had plans to start manufacturing UAVs in Tatarstan, but later removed the claim.

The JZ-550, which was unveiled at SPIEF, has the ability to put out fires using special equipment, but other products from Tsingaero Armaments may also be used for military purposes.

The Tsingaero website claims that the UAV JZ-150 can perform both civil and military missions in a variety of scenarios, with intelligence, communication, electronic jamming equipment, and various weapons and ammunition on board.

The Tsingaero website

In February 2024, the EU imposed new sanctions on Russia, expanding the list of items that are restricted and could contribute to Russia’s defence and security. The list includes components for the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

OFAC deletes Swiss businessman Alexander Studhalter from the sanctions list

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has removed Swiss businessman Alexander Studhalter, as well as several entities linked to him, from its sanctions list, including MG International AG, Papa Oscar Ventures GmbH, and SCI AAA Properties.

Alexander Studhalter’s companies and he himself were sanctioned in 2022 after OFAC alleged that he had been a key figure in Suleiman Kerimov’s financial network and had allegedly laundered large amounts of money for Kerimov.

Suleiman Kerimov is a prominent Russian businessman and former government official who was designated by OFAC in 2018 as an official of Russia’s government. He has also been sanctioned by other countries, including Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

In June 2022, the OFAC issued a Notification of Blocked Property to the Heritage Trust, a Delaware-based entity with which Kerimov had an interest in property. As of June 30, 2021, Heritage Trust had assets valued at more than $1 billion. An extensive investigation by OFAC revealed that Kerimov used relatives, advisors, and opaque legal entities to invest in the US, and used a complex series of structures and front companies to hide his interest in the Heritage Trust.