Month: May 2023

UK: A LIST IDENTIFYING ITEMS THAT RUSSIA IS USING IN ITS WEAPONS SYSTEMS

On 31 May, the EU Sanctions blog reported that the Foreign Commonwealth and development Office had published its Common High Priority List.  The list is divided into 4 Tiers, with Tiers 1 and 2 containing particularly sensitive items:

  • Tier 1: Integrated circuits (also referred to as microelectronics).
  • Tier 2: Electronics items related to wireless communication, satellite-based radio navigation, and passive electronic components.
  • Tier 3: Discrete electronic components, electronics cabling and connectors, digital cameras and related optical components.
  • Tier 4: Manufacturing, production and quality testing equipment of electric components and circuits.

Also listed are the HS Commodity Codes.

https://www.europeansanctions.com/2023/05/uk-foreign-office-publishes-russia-common-high-priority-items-list/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-common-high-priority-items-list

GUIDANCE ON THE UK’S SANCTIONS REGIME RELATING TO RUSSIA UPDATED

On 31 May, the page from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office containing links to guidance on Russian sanctions has been updated with added links to additional documents: Russia Sanctions – Common High Priority Items List and NTE 2023/08; and Russia sanctions – Trade sanctions circumvention.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-sanctions-on-russia#full-publication-update-history

FATF MUTUAL EVALUATION REPORT ON QATAR

On 31 May, FATF published the MER for Qatar, which was undertaken by FATF-style regional body, MENA-FATF.  It says that Qatar has made substantive improvements to its system to combat money laundering and terrorism financing and its technical compliance with FATF requirements is very strong. However, Qatar needs to make some major improvements, in its criminal justice response to terrorist financing.

https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Mutualevaluations/MER-Qatar-2023.html

EU ADDS 2 NAMES TO UKRAINE SANCTIONS LIST

EU Regulation 2023/1046/EU adds 2 names to the sanctions lists – the leader of the Party of Regions of Moldova and head of the interregional public organisation Congress of Moldovan Diasporas; and the vice-president of the Russian Federation of Wrestling.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.LI.2023.140.01.0007.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A140I%3ATOC

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=uriserv:OJ.LI.2023.140.01.0014.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2023:140I:TOC

FATF MUTUAL EVALUATION FOLLOW-UP REPORT – FIJI

On 30 May, FATF published the sixth follow-up report from FATF-style regional body APG.  The country has been re-rated on 2 FATF Recommendations – Recommendation 39 originally rated Partially Compliant is upgraded to Compliant; and Recommendation 15 which was amended after Fiji’s Mutual Evaluation was adopted, has been re-rated to Partially Compliant.  Fiji has 34 Recommendations rated C/LC, and the country remains in enhanced follow-up.

https://www.fatf-gafi.org/content/fatf-gafi/en/publications/Mutualevaluations/fur-fiji-2023.html

EU: 5 NAMES ADDED TO MOLDOVA SANCTIONS LIST

EU Regulation 2023/1045/EU adds 5 persons to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/888.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.LI.2023.140.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A140I%3ATOC

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=uriserv:OJ.LI.2023.140.01.0009.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2023:140I:TOC

EX-BVI PORTS AUTHORITY MD TO PLEAD GUILTY IN DRUGS TRAFFICKING CASE

On 30 May, Offshore Alert reported that that former BVI Ports Authority Managing Director Oleanvine Maynard intends to plead guilty, leaving former BVI Premier Andrew Fahie as the only defendant still fighting the charges in the same case.

https://bvinews.com/former-ports-md-set-to-plead-guilty-to-drug-charges/