On August 28, 2025, Canada announced amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Moldova) Regulations (the “Regulations”) sanctioning Russian collaborators in Moldova. The amendments list an additional sixteen individuals and two entities under the Schedule of the Regulations and took effect on August 28, 2025. These sanctions are announced in the context of Moldova’s upcoming parliamentary elections, which will be held on September 28, 2025, and are aimed at individuals who are stated to have been actively participating in…
Background Article 8a of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014 (the “EU Russia Regulations”) imposes obligations on EU parents to undertake “best efforts” to ensure that activities conducted by their non-EU subsidiaries do not undermine EU sanctions targeting Russia and Belarus. This requirement, which was introduced in June 2024, raises complex questions about the scope of EU sanctions and their applicability to the activities of non-EU entities. The Commission previously issued guidance in November 2024 in relation…
On 31 July 2025, the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (“OFSI”) announced that it had imposed a monetary penalty totalling GBP 300,000 on Markom Management Limited (“MML”), a provider of fiduciary, management, administration, bookkeeping and accounting services incorporated in the UK. The monetary penalty related to conduct in 2018 and a breach of the UK’s pre-Brexit sanctions regime, specifically the UK’s implementing regulations for Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 (Ukraine Misappropriation and Human Rights)…
In brief In recent years, intellectual property (IP) has become an increasingly important area of application for international sanctions. While sanctions have traditionally focused on restricting trade in goods, services, financial transactions and the movement of individuals, the scope has broadened to include intangible assets such as patents, trade secrets and software. This development reflects a growing recognition that IP rights are strategic assets that underpin critical technologies and industries. By restricting access to IP,…