Frequently Asked Questions

1039. Are transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the exportation or reexportation of agricultural commodities to, from, or transiting the Russian Federation that involve Agropromyshlennyi Kompleks Voronezhskii OOO, Anninskii Elevator OOO, and Azovskaya Zernovaya Kompaniya OOO authorized under OFAC sanctions?

Yes. On May 8, 2022, OFAC designated Agropromyshlennyi Kompleks Voronezhskii OOO, Anninskii Elevator OOO, and Azovskaya Zernovaya Kompaniya OOO pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or… Read more

1040. Are transactions related to telecommunications and certain internet-based communications that involve persons designated pursuant to Executive Order 14024 authorized by Russia-related General License (GL) 25G?

GL 25G authorizes certain transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the receipt or transmission of telecommunications involving the Russian Federation that are prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR). In addition, GL 25G authorizes… Read more

1100. I am a U.S. person that owns debt or equity, including publicly traded shares, in Pingtan Marine Enterprise, Ltd. (PME), which was designated under Executive Order (E.O.) 13818. What actions am I authorized to take under Global Magnitsky General License 3?

Pursuant to Global Magnitsky General License (GL) 3 , U.S. persons are authorized to engage in certain transactions that would otherwise be prohibited by the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 583, ordinarily incident and necessary to the divestment or transfer, or facilitation of… Read more

1101. What activity does Global Magnitsky General License 4 authorize?

On December 9, 2022, OFAC designated, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818 , several persons, including Dalian Ocean Fishing Co., Ltd.; Fujian Provincial Pingtan County Ocean Fishing Group Co., Ltd.; Fuzhou Honglong Ocean Fishing Co. Ltd.; and Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. Concurrent with this… Read more

1102. Do non-U.S. persons risk exposure to U.S. sanctions for engaging in transactions that U.S. persons would be authorized to engage in under Global Magnitsky General Licenses 3 and 4?

No. Non-U.S. persons may engage in the transactions authorized for U.S. persons by Global Magnitsky General License (GL) 3 and wind down transactions with the blocked persons specified in GL 4 , without exposure to sanctions under Executive Order (E.O.) 13818 or the Global Magnitsky Sanctions… Read more

1103. Is there a wind-down period for transactions involving Public Joint Stock Company Rosbank (Rosbank), which was blocked on December 15, 2022 pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024? What transactions are authorized during the wind-down period?

OFAC issued General Licenses (GL) 58 and 59 concurrent with the designation of Rosbank. GL 58 authorizes a wind-down period for transactions involving Rosbank or any entity in which Rosbank owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest (“Rosbank entities”) until 12:01 a.m. eastern… Read more

1104. Is Norilsk Nickel blocked as a result of the designation of Vladimir Potanin?

No. OFAC has not designated Norilsk Nickel and, based on information available to OFAC as of December 15, 2022, Norilsk Nickel is not owned 50% or more by blocked persons or otherwise considered the blocked property of Vladimir Potanin… Read more

1105. What actions did OFAC take to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2664 of December 9, 2022 relating to a new UN sanctions exception for humanitarian assistance?

On December 9, 2022, the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted UNSCR 2664, which establishes a humanitarian carveout to the asset freeze measure across United Nations sanctions regimes. The carveout enables the flow of legitimate humanitarian assistance and activities supporting the basic… Read more

1106. Are financial institutions permitted to provide banking services, including processing funds transfers, related to activities authorized under the four categories of the general licenses (GLs) outlined in FAQ 1105? What are OFAC's diligence expectations of financial institutions seeking to engage in such activities?

U.S. financial institutions may operate accounts, including processing funds transfers, for persons engaging in activities authorized by the GLs related to: (i) the official business of the U.S. government, (ii) official business of certain international organizations and entities, (iii) certain… Read more

1107. For purposes of the OFAC general licenses related to the official business of certain international organizations and entities (IO GLs), what organizations are included within the United Nations' "Programmes, Funds, and Other Entities and Bodies, as well as its Specialized Agencies and Related Organizations"?

For an organizational chart of the United Nations (UN), which lists the UN Programmes, Funds, and Other Entities and Bodies, as well as its Specialized Agencies and Related Organizations, including the World Bank, please see this page on the UN website . The IO GLs also authorize the activities of… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

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