UK Sanctions Weekly Update – Week of September 18, 2023

In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world. If you have any questions in respect of any of the developments set out below, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our London Global and Government Trade team listed above.

1.  UK Sanctions

• OFSI issues general licence for payments to water companies: On September 21, 2023, OFSI issued General Licence INT/2023/3179120, which permits, among other things, any person designated under UK autonomous sanctions regulations to pay water companies for water and sewage services, subject to certain conditions. (INT-2023-3179120_PN.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk))
• UK Government updates high priority items lists: On September 21, 2023, the UK’s FCDO updated its list of controlled “common high priority” items (i.e. items identified as critical to Russia’s war effort) by (i) adding 7 new product codes, including bearings needed for heavy vehicles or other machinery and antennae used for navigation systems and (ii) dividing Tier 3 of the list into mechanical and non-mechanical items. (Russia Sanctions – Common High Priority Items List - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk))#
• OFSI updates 4 Russian sanctions designations: On September 19, 2023, OFSI amended one and corrected three entries in the UK Sanctions List. The entries for the following individuals were updated: (i) Mikhail Maratovic Fridman, (ii) Zarakh Binsionovich Iliev, (iii) Igor Viktorovich Makarov and (iv) Iskander Kakhramonovich Makhmudov. All of these individuals remain subject to an asset freeze and trust services sanctions. (Notice_Russia_190923.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk))
• UK, along with other G7 nations, to introduce Russia diamonds import ban: On September 18 2023, a Belgian official announced that a ban on imports of Russian diamonds is expected to be agreed by the G7 in the next two or three weeks. According to the official, there would be a direct ban on purchases from 1 January 2024 as well as an indirect ban, which would be phased in over time. Earlier in 2023, the UK Prime Minister banned the import of Russian diamonds, copper, aluminium, and nickel. (G-7 Plans Russian Diamond Imports Ban by Year-End, Belgium Says - BNN Bloomberg; https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-sanctions-demonstrate-g7-resolve-on-russia)

2.  ISIL Sanctions

• OFSI amends three entries under ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaeda sanctions regime: On September 22, 2023, OFSI amended entries on the UK sanctions list under the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida regime for the following individuals: (i) Taha Ibrahim Abdallah Bakr Al Khuwayt, (ii) Amir Muhammad Sa'id Abdal-Rahman al-Salbi and (iii) Nurjaman Isamuddin Riduan. All of these individuals remain subject to an asset freeze. (Notice_ISIL__Da_esh__and_Al-Qaida_220923.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk))