Nadiya Nychay, former partner at Dentons, has joined Jones Day as a partner in its government regulation practice based in Brussels, the firm announced. Nychay covers matters involving the World Trade Organization, EU regulatory and trade proceedings and international trade disputes. She also counsels clients on international sanctions and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance, the firm said. Before joining Dentons, Nychay served as a legal officer in the Rules and Accessions Divisions at the WTO.
Some Russian airlines are considering relocating to Turkey to skirt sanctions that so far have stopped them from leasing aircraft and accessing maintenance and repair facilities. Pegas Touristik, owner of Nordwind Airlines, and Anex Tourism Group, operator of Azur Air, have had discussions with leasing companies in Turkey about getting planes, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported June 8. Azur Air and Nordwind primarily ferry Russian tourists to marquee locations and are controlled by Turkish businessmen. Since the carriers are not sanctioned, their relocation wouldn't violate the restrictions, Bloomberg said. The EU's sanctions led to companies terminating leases to airlines in Russia and banned the carriers from flying in European airspace.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection related to international import certificates. Importers use the certificate to certify to the U.S. government that they won’t reexport the goods “except in accordance with the export control regulations” of the U.S. Comments are due Aug. 12.
Joe Sery, former owner and CEO of Tungsten Heavy Powder & Parts, pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally export defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List to China, India and other countries without first getting a license from the State Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California announced June 9. Sery's actions violated the International Traffic in Arms Regulation, and he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General Licenses related to Syria, Iran and Venezuela, "Authorizing Certain Activities to Respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic," according to a June 10 notice.
Canada last week announced another set of Russia sanctions, including a ban on the export of 28 services “vital” for the operation of oil, gas and chemical industries. The ban also applies to technical, management, accounting and advertising services, Canada said. The country said the ban is meant to target Russia’s energy and chemical industry, which “accounts for about 50% of Russia’s federal budget revenues.” The sanctions took effect June 8.
The U.S. should create a new multilateral export control regime to counter China’s unfair industrial policies and misuse of sensitive technologies, said Mark Dallas, an associate professor at Union College in New York and a fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations. A new regime would create a “unified, clear and multilateral voice” around export controls and would reduce “commercial tensions” between the U.S. and its allies through better information sharing and enforcement.
U.S. sanctions and export controls are having a “severe” impact on Russia even though Moscow has continued its war in Ukraine, said Erik Woodhouse, a senior sanctions official with the State Department. Woodhouse said the U.S. is hoping the restrictions eventually force Russia to reverse course and expects the impacts to grow over time.
The Bureau of Industry and Security last week charged a Montana resident and his two companies with violating U.S. export controls after BIS said he tried to ship controlled items knowing they would be used in Iran. Kenneth Scott and his companies, Scott Communication and Mission Communications, also made false or misleading statements to agents, failed to file Electronic Export Information and didn’t maintain the required export records, BIS said.
The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued guidance on the enforcement and monetary penalties for violations of financial sanctions to reflect changes made by the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act of 2022. The new measures and guidance come into effect June 15.