Filenews 24 February 2024 - by Fanis Makrides
Cyprus was not absent from the latest package of sanctions imposed by the US, UK and Canada against Russia, two years after the latter's invasion of Ukraine.
Three shipping companies registered in Cyprus in the penultimate week of March 2020 and one holder of a Cypriot passport were included in the package of US and British sanctions, respectively, while restrictions on the number of entities registered on our island were also imposed by Canada.
In the coming hours we are expected to have a complete picture of all natural and legal entities associated with Cyprus that have been included in the Western lists. Information from Canada and the European Union on the new additions to the existing lists is pending.
The picture as it was formed until last night:
OFAC penalties
The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced yesterday the corporate entities that were subject to restrictions. These are the following companies:
· AZORIA SHIPPING COMPANY LIMITED (registered in Cyprus on 17/03/2020)
· GLORINA SHIPPING COMPANY LIMITED (registered in Cyprus on 17/03/2020)
· ELIXON SHIPPING COMPANY LIMITED (registered in Cyprus on 24/03/2020)
All three companies have the same management structure. Vladimir Oskirko appears as their chairman and the Cypriot administrative services company CYPROSERVUS CO. LIMITED as secretary.
The New York Times, announcing the new U.S. restrictions, called it "the most far-reaching package of U.S. sanctions against Russia two years since its invasion of Ukraine, focusing on Russia's financial and military-industrial sectors in a broad effort to weaken the Kremlin's war machine."
With its new measures, the US is targeting 500 individuals and corporate entities that support Ukraine's war machine.
OFSI penalties
The UK equivalent OFSI included in the long list GURYEVA-MOTLOKHOVA, Yulia Andreevna, originally from Russia and holding a Cypriot passport.
Financial restrictions and asset freezes were imposed on it. As for the reason, as stated in the recital, "it is associated with a person who has been involved in obtaining benefits from the government of Russia, namely Andrey Grigoryevich Guryev."
Canada sanctions
Canada, in a coordinated effort with the United States and Britain, imposed restrictions on high-ranking officials of private and state-owned companies registered in Russia and Cyprus.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Tuesday that the new Canadian sanctions target individuals and entities believed to be providing financial and accounting support to Russian entities and have acted to circumvent sanctions and support Russia's military operations in Ukraine. By broadening the scope of these sanctions to include companies registered in Cyprus, Canada aims to further intensify pressure on those who allow Russia's actions in the region.
The European Union
Yesterday, EU member states approved the 13th package of sanctions against the Putin regime and those responsible for and supporting this "illegal, unprovoked and unjustified" war. The new sanctions package imposes restrictive measures on persons and companies related to the transfer of weapons from North Korea to Russia, individuals responsible for the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine, as well as companies from third countries (including a Turkish company), which are considered to be helping to circumvent sanctions.
EU member states decided to impose restrictive measures on an additional 106 individuals and 88 entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. The new listings mainly target the military and defense sector and individuals associated with it, including those involved in North Korea's supply of weapons to Russia, as well as members of the judiciary, local politicians and individuals responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainian children.
