Callie Lefevre, Author at Global Sanctions and Export Controls Blog

US Government Expands Export Controls on Nicaragua

April 1, 2024 By Alison J. Stafford Powell, Callie Lefevre and Alexandra Kumar (USA) 3 Mins Read

On March 14, 2024, the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (“DDTC”) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) announced more restrictive export controls on Nicaragua stated to be in response to the Nicaraguan Government’s human rights abuses, attacks on civil society, and increased cooperation with Russia. The DDTC and BIS press releases are available here and here. DDTC: New ITAR Export Controls The State Department announced…

US Government Makes First Sanctions Designations under Executive Order Related to Hostage-Taking and Wrongful Detention of US Nationals

May 11, 2023 By Paul Amberg (Spain), Callie Lefevre and Michael Amberg (UK) 4 Mins Read

On April 27, 2023, the US Department of State (“State”) designated Russia’s Federal Security Service (“FSB”) and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization (“IRGC-IO”) pursuant to Executive Order (“EO”) 14078 (Bolstering Efforts To Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home), with the result that the IRGC-IO has been added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”). The IRGC as a whole and FSB were previously designated on the…

FinCEN Issues Alert on Potential Russia Sanctions Evasion in the US Commercial Real Estate Sector

February 7, 2023 By Kerry B. Contini, Callie Lefevre, Michael Amberg (UK) and Sarah Winston 6 Mins Read

On January 25, 2023, the US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued an alert to financial institutions regarding potential investments in the US commercial real estate (“CRE”) sector by sanctioned Russian individuals, their family members, and entities through which they act (“Alert”). The Alert complements an earlier alert that FinCEN issued in March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. Our coverage of the March 2022 alert can be found here. In…

OFAC Designates Major Russian Financial Institutions and Issues New and Amended Russia-Related General Licenses; New FAQs

December 20, 2022 By Sylwia A. Lis and Callie Lefevre 4 Mins Read

On December 15, 2022, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) added Public Joint Stock Company Rosbank (“Rosbank”) and 17 subsidiaries of VTB Bank Public Joint Stock Company (“VTB Bank”) to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”). The United States Department of State (“State Department”) designated Vladimir Potanin, three members of his family, and his company Interros, pursuant to Executive Order 14024, with the result…