US de-lists former Kazakh Sberbank subsidiary & designates 6 linked to trial of Russian activist

On 8 March 2023, OFAC de-listed a former Kazakh subsidiary of Sberbank, previously Subsidiary Bank Sberbank of Russia Joint Stock Co., from its Russia sanctions list. The company was initially designated on 6 April 2022. Press Release. It has since been sold to National Managing Holding Co. Baiterek, which is owned by the Kazakh government, and renamed Bereke Bank Joint Stock Co. See WSJ report and Notice.

Human rights abuses against Vladimir Kara-Murza

In response to the arbitrary detention of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent Russian pro-democracy and human rights activist, OFAC has listed:

• Elena Anatolievna Lenskaya, a judge of the Basmannyy District Court in Moscow’
• Andrei Andreevich Zadachin, a Special Investigator assigned to the Chief Investigative Directorate of the Russian Investigative Committee; and
• Danila Yurievich Mikheev, who acted as an expert witness for the Russian government on the case against Mr Kara-Murza.

These listings were made pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818 (Magnitsky sanctions). Press Release & Notice.

Concurrently, the State Department has imposed visa restrictions on Ms Lenskaya and Mr Zadachin pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act 2023. Press Release. Pursuant to Section 1(a)(iii)(A) of E.O. 14024, it has designated:

• Oleg Mikhailovich Sviridenko, Russian Deputy Minister of Justice; and
• Diana Igorevna Mishchenko and Ilya Pavlovich Kozlov, both judges.