Treasury imposes sanctions on dozens of Russian banks, securities registrars, and finance officials; OFAC issues alert warning of risks of joining Russia’s System for Transfer of Financial Messages
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took another major step in implementing commitments made by G7 leaders to curtail Russia’s use of the international financial system to further its war against Ukraine. OFAC’s action includes the designation of Gazprombank, more than 50 internationally connected Russian banks, more than 40 Russian securities registrars, and 15 Russian finance officials. OFAC is also issuing an alert describing sanctions risks related to Russia’s System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS), which the Kremlin created and uses to evade sanctions.
“Today’s sanctions targeting Russia’s largest remaining non-designated bank, as well as dozens of other financial institutions and officials in Russia, will further diminish and degrade Russia’s war machine. This sweeping action will make it harder for the Kremlin to evade U.S. sanctions and fund and equip its military,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “We will continue to take decisive steps against any financial channels Russia uses to support its illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine.”
GAZPROMBANK
OFAC is designating Gazprombank Joint Stock Company (Gazprombank) alongside its six foreign subsidiaries. Gazprombank is a conduit for Russia to purchase military materiel for its war effort against Ukraine. The Russian government also uses Gazprombank to pay its soldiers, including for combat bonuses, and to compensate the families of Russian soldiers killed fighting Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have previously sanctioned Gazprombank.
Luxembourg-based bank GPB International SA, Hong Kong-based GPB Financial Services Hong Kong Limited, Cyprus-based GPB Financial Services Limited and GPB-DI Holdings Limited, Switzerland-based Gazprombank (Switzerland) Ltd, and South Africa-based GPB Africa and Middle East Pty Ltd are wholly owned subsidiaries of Gazprombank.
Gazprombank is being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy. GPB International SA, GPB Financial Services Hong Kong Limited, GPB Financial Services Limited, GPB-DI Holdings Limited, Gazprombank (Switzerland) Ltd, and GPB Africa and Middle East Pty Ltd are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Gazprombank. All entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Gazprombank or the six designated Gazprombank subsidiaries, are subject to blocking, even if not identified by OFAC.
Concurrently with this action, OFAC is issuing two new general licenses (GL) authorizing U.S. persons to wind down transactions involving Gazprombank, among other financial institutions, and to take the necessary steps to divest from debt or equity issued by Gazprombank. OFAC is also amending Russia-related GL 53 to ensure that diplomatic banking activities involving Gazprombank are not disrupted. OFAC continues to maintain a variety of authorizations, including GLs authorizing transactions related to agricultural commodities, medicine, medical devices, certain transactions in support of non-governmental organizations, the official business of third-country diplomatic missions located in the Russian Federation, and certain transactions and official business of certain international organizations and entities.
SYSTEM FOR TRANSFER OF FINANCIAL MESSAGES
OFAC is also issuing an alert underscoring the sanctions risk for foreign financial institutions that join Russia’s System for Transfer of Financial Messages (commonly known by its Russian acronym, SPFS, short for Sistema Peredachi Finansovykh Soobshcheniy). SPFS is part of the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy because of its role facilitating communication between financial institutions engaged in Russia’s financial system. This means that any foreign financial institution that joins or has already joined SPFS may be designated for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy pursuant to E.O. 14024. Russia has used and promoted SPFS, designed as an alternative to Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) network, to maintain international financial connectivity, evade sanctions, and fund its war effort. OFAC views joining SPFS after publication of this alert as a red flag and is prepared to more aggressively target foreign financial institutions that take such action. OFAC also urges stakeholders to review their exposure to institutions that have joined SPFS, as such banks may be conduits for Russian sanctions evasion.
DOZENS OF RUSSIAN BANKS
Further curtailing Russia’s connections to the international financial system, OFAC is designating more than 50 small-to-medium Russian banks to prevent Russia from abusing the international financial system to pay for the technology and equipment it needs to sustain its illegal and unjust war against Ukraine. Foreign financial institutions that maintain correspondent relationships with these banks should be aware that continuing to do so entails significant sanctions risk.