The video is available via Twitter. As Bill Browder has tweeted: “I’m getting lots of questions on which Putin oligarchs to sanction. Since they all sue anyone who utters their names for libel, please refer to Layla Moran MP’s speech in which she names 35 of them (and all the names can now be repeated under parliamentary privilege)”.
Day: February 23, 2022
US TREASURY TARGETS KEY HOUTHI FINANCE NETWORK IN COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL GULF PARTNERS
On 23 February, the US Treasury issued a news release saying that OFAC was designating members of an international network funding the Houthis’ war against the Yemeni government and increasingly aggressive attacks threatening civilians and civilian infrastructure in neighbouring states. Led by the U.S.-designated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Houthi financier Sa’id al-Jamal, this network has transferred tens of millions of dollars to Yemen via a complex international network of intermediaries in support of the Houthis’ attacks. al-Jamal and members of his network were designated in 2021, and it is said that he directs a web of front companies and vessels that smuggle fuel, petroleum products, and other commodities to customers throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Al-Jamal is aided by Turkey-based Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud and his network of businesses, which have served as a cover for al-Jamal’s activities. The network includes exchange houses and shipping companies.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0603
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20220223
Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed! I have a page where you can do so, and where one-off contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymea3coffee.com/KoIvM842y
OFAC ADDS NORD STREAM 2 AG TO RUSSIA SANCTIONS LIST AND 1 GERMAN NATIONAL, AND GENERAL LICENSE TO RUN DOWN NORD STREAM 2 OPERATIONS
On 23 February, OFAC announced that it had added Swiss-based Nord Stream 2 AG to its sanctions lists, together with Matthias Warnig. It also issued General License authorizing the wind down of transactions involving Nord Stream 2 AG.
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20220223_33
CANADA, JAPAN & AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCE RUSSIA SANCTIONS
On 23 February, the EU Sanctions blog reported that Canada, Japan and Australia have all announced sanctions on Russia in response to its recognition of the so-called so-called People’s Republics of Donetsk (DNR) and Luhansk (LNR), and the entry of Russian troops into Ukrainian territory.
https://www.europeansanctions.com/2022/02/canada-japan-australia-announce-russia-sanctions/
NEW UK DATA TRANSFER TOOLS LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT
On 21 February, Field Fisher reported that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport laid the ICO new International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) and the addendum (UK Addendum) to the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses (SCC) before Parliament. T hese documents will provide the Appropriate Safeguards required under UK GDPR to transfer UK personal data to countries not covered by adequacy decisions.
EBA CONCLUDES ITS LUANDA LEAKS INVESTIGATION – SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN COMPETENT AUTHORITIES’ RESPONSES TO EMERGING MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST FINANCING RISKS
A news release from the European Banking Authority on 22 February advised that the EBA has released the findings of its assessment of competent authorities’ responses to the 2020 Luanda leaks. It found that competent authorities across the EU adopted significantly different approaches for identifying and tackling money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) risks highlighted by the leaks. These approaches varied beyond what the EBA would have expected under a risk-based approach. The Luanda Leaks involved information contained in the documents leaked by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) on the financial affairs of Isabel dos Santos or her associates raised a number of concerns included the risk that financial institutions in the EU were handling the proceeds from corruption in Angola.
RUSSIAN BANK SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES BLOCKED BY US ON 22 FEBRUARY
On 23 February, in his blog, Kenneth Rijock produced a useful list of VEB subsidiaries PSB subsidiaries affected by new Executive Order 14024.
https://rijock.blogspot.com/2022/02/russian-bank-subsidiaries-and.html
UK SUPREME COURT HAS HALTED THE EXTRADITION OF A SCOTTISH MAN WANTED BY THE US FOR A £1.2 MILLION FRAUD OVER “FORUM BAR” ISSUE
On 23 February, the BBC reported that the judges found James Craig’s human rights had been breached as a legal measure which could have helped him had not been introduced in Scotland. The case involved the issue of the “forum bar”, which allows an extradition to be blocked on the basis that a trial could “fairly and effectively” take place in the UK and not abroad. Introduced in the UK in 2013, the Scottish government asked that it should not apply to Scottish cases over fears that it would interfere with the independence of Scottish prosecutors – and that meant Mr Craig could not use forum bar as an argument against his extradition. The Supreme Court’s ruling means the case is being brought back to Scotland to start all over again, 9 years after the original alleged offence.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-60493106
Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed! I have a page where you can do so, and where one-off contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymea3coffee.com/KoIvM842y
INSIDE DANSKE BANK ESTONIA’S MONEY LAUNDERING MACHINE
A report from OCCRP on 23 February was concerned with schemes involving Russia, Azerbaijan, the US, Iran, Switzerland, and Georgia, as well as a scam that defrauded Facebook out of nearly $100 million. It says that this flowed through Danske Bank Estonia accounts between 2007 and 2015, when the bank was at the centre of one of Europe’s largest-ever money laundering scandals. Late last year, investigators presented a 160-page report to the 19 bankers detailing the accusations against them – and this document has been obtained by Estonia’s Eesti Ekspress and shared with OCCRP and Danish newspaper Berlingske. It outlines the charges that prosecutors expect to file in the coming months.
Any modest contributions for my time and ongoing expenses are welcomed! I have a page where you can do so, and where one-off contributions start as low as $3, at https://www.buymea3coffee.com/KoIvM842y
EU MINISTERS AGREE FURTHER RUSSIA SANCTIONS
On 23 February, the EU Sanctions blog reported that EU ministers had agreed a package of measures in response to Russia’s actions over Ukraine, and these involved designating 351 members of the Russian parliament (the Duma), as well as other individuals and banks; banning trade between the so-called People’s Republic of Donetsk and Luhansk and the EU; and limiting the ability of the Russian state and government to access EU capital and financial markets or services.
https://www.europeansanctions.com/2022/02/eu-announces-russia-sanctions-package/
raytodd.blog 