Day: July 12, 2021

On 12 July, the EU Sanctions blog reported that the US Commerce Department had added a further Russian entity to the MEU List.  The List identifies foreign parties that are prohibited from receiving certain items unless the exporter secures a licence, because they represent an unacceptable risk of use in or diversion to a ‘military end-use’ or ‘military end-user’ in China, Russia, or Venezuela.

https://www.europeansanctions.com/2021/07/bis-adds-34-entities-to-entity-list-and-1-entity-to-meu-list/

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On 7 July, a report from Mongabay argues that that the world’s top 10 fishing nations are spending billions of dollars on harmful fishing subsidies to not only exploit their own domestic waters, but to fish in the high seas and the waters of other nations.  Experts say these subsidies are propping up fishing industries that would not be viable without financial support, and contributing to overcapacity, overfishing, and IUU fishing.  The potential for harmful fishing subsidies will be addressed at an upcoming meeting of the WTO that will take place online on 15 July.

https://news.mongabay.com/2021/07/billions-in-fishing-subsidies-finance-social-ecological-harm-report-finds/

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The Office of the Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has produced a report which contains analysis and recommendations for more effective policy responses.  The purpose of this paper is to explore the intersections between human trafficking and terrorism by analysing the modus operandi of terrorist groups vis-à-vis the constituent elements of trafficking in human beings. It is based on illustrative examples collected from across the OSCE region, and it aims to support the efforts of states to hold terrorist groups and their members fully accountable for their criminal behaviour.  It also seeks to ensure that those exploited by these groups are identified and their rights protected.  The report provides a comparative study of 2 crimes – human trafficking and terrorism, and the purpose is to offer recommendations for tackling and combating both.  The paper provides a set of targeted recommendations to challenge the trafficking practices of terrorist groups by leveraging existing preventative and protective mechanisms that exist in the anti-trafficking field.  The intention of these recommendation is to support states in preventing the crime of trafficking while protecting its victims.  It considers the elements of trafficking committed by terrorist groups.

https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/2/7/491983.pdf

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On 6 July, a report from the US Government Accountability Office says that law enforcement agencies use forensic algorithms in criminal investigations to help assess whether evidence originated from a specific individual — improving the speed and objectivity of many investigations.  Forensic algorithms can help analyse latent fingerprints, faces, genetic information, and more. However, analysts and investigators face several challenges, such as difficulty interpreting and communicating results, and addressing potential bias and misuse. The GAO says that it has developed 3 policy options that could help with such challenges:

• Increased training
• Standards and policies on appropriate use
• Increased transparency in testing, performance, and use of these algorithms

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-435sp

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Lloyds List Intelligence has issued a report which looks at the global scale of the operations that transport and exchange illicit commodities through a network of vessels using similar playbook tactics to evade detection.  It says that data shows how large and impactful the problem is today – and that it’s growing and evolving. It says that analysing the deceptive and evasive practices deployed by a subterfuge fleet of about 160 tankers shipping US[1]sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian energy commodities can provide invaluable insight for those who need to track and trace suspicious vessels and cargo.

http://app.intelligence.informa.com/e/er?s=383344069&lid=27030&elq=~~eloqua..type–emailfield..syntax–recipientid..encodeFor–url~~

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On 12 July, the House of Commons Library in the UK published a briefing paper which explains compulsory liquidation, which is when a court orders than an insolvent company be closed down.

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04937/SN04937.pdf

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On 12 July, the Home Office issued a news release advising that the Home Secretary has taken action to outlaw the extreme right-wing terrorist group, The Base; a predominantly US-based militant white supremacist organisation seeking to establish a white ethno-state.  It was first formed in 2018 and shares many of its aims and ideologies with Atomwaffen Division and its alias National Socialist Order, which the Home Secretary proscribed earlier this year.  The Base will be the fifth extreme right-wing terrorist group to be proscribed in the UK, and the third to be proscribed within the last year.  Proscription makes it a criminal offence to be a member of, or invite support for the group.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-to-ban-extreme-right-wing-terrorist-group-the-base

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On 12 July, KYC 360 reported an article from The Times which said that thousands of “golden visas” given to oligarchs and wealthy foreigners are under review over potential risks to national security.  The Tier 1 investor visa were introduced by the Labour Party in in 2008 response to the financial crisis, granting British residency in exchange for 7-figure investments. The initiative fuelled a property boom for wealthy Russians in Britain.  The Home Office has now confirmed that it has been assessing the risk “of a range of national security threats including illicit finance, corruption and wider serious and organised crime risks”.

https://www.riskscreen.com/kyc360/news/uk-national-security-review-of-golden-visas-for-investors

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On 12 July, 2 new Notices from HM Treasury advised that the entries for Leanid Mikalaievich CHURO and the BELAERONAVIGATSIA REPUBLICAN UNITARY AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES ENTERPRISE on the Belarus sanctions lists have been amended; and that the entry for Salam TOHME on the Syrian sanctions list; have been amended.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1001120/Notice_Syria_120721.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1001138/Notice_Belarus_120721.pdf

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On 12 July, the Wall Street Journal reported that while Ahmad Ghalebani stepped down from Iranian national oil company in 2013, he now has roles in 2 Iranian energy companies, possibly in violation of US sanctions.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/iranian-oil-executive-removed-from-u-s-sanctions-list-remains-active-in-sector-11626091200

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