The U.S. this week announced a spate of new Russia-related sanctions and export controls, targeting people and companies supplying Russia’s military, aiding its defense industrial complex or operating in various Russian financial, metals, government and procurement sectors. The measures include additions to the Commerce Department’s Entity List and more than 200 combined sanctions by the Treasury and State departments targeting businesses in China, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere for sending export-controlled components to Russia.

The U.S., the U.K. and Canada issued new sanctions this week against Myanmar, targeting various entities and officials with ties to the country’s military regime and its purchase of weapons.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching for the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

The Bureau of Industry and Security recently published a set of frequently asked questions to provide guidance for exports to Israel. BIS said it’s able to expedite certain Israel-related export applications in light of the ongoing war in the region. It said the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank aren't recognized as separate destinations from Israel under the Export Administration Regulations, so items that require a license for Israel also need a license for those Palestinian territories.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week announced its second round of Hamas-related sanctions after the terror group’s killings in Israel earlier this month, designating more Hamas-linked officials and financial networks. The agency sanctioned people helping Hamas evade sanctions, their companies and other entities with ties to the group.

The U.S. is planning more actions, including sanctions, to try to cut Hamas off from the global financial system after the terrorist group’s killings in Israel earlier this month, said Brian Nelson, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. Nelson, speaking during a meeting of the multilateral Terrorist Financing Targeting Center this week in Saudi Arabia, said the U.S. has “much more work to do” to build on its initial response, which has so far included new designations (see 2310180003 and 2310160054) and a new advisory to provide banks with guidance on countering Hamas financing.

Jenner & Block partner Rachel Alpert was tapped to serve as the chief counsel to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the firm announced on Oct. 24. Alpert has worked at Jenner & Block since 2021 and has fleshed out the firm's national security, sanctions and export controls practice, along with the human rights and global strategy practice. Her practice centered around export controls and sanctions proceedings under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Export Administration Regulations and OFAC regulations, among other things. Prior to working at Jenner & Block, Alpert worked as an attorney-adviser to the State Department and as counsel at Latham & Watkins.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week renewed an authorization for certain Russia-related energy transactions. General License 8H, which replaced GL 8G, authorizes certain transactions with several Russian energy companies through 12:01 a.m. EDT May 1. The license was previously scheduled to expire Nov. 1.

The U.S. filed a forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against a 348-foot superyacht allegedly owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, DOJ announced Oct. 23. The vessel, worth more than $300 million, was seized in 2022 in Fiji following a U.S. request for mutual legal assistance. The yacht was "improved and maintained in violation of" sanctions on Kerimov and "those acting on his behalf," DOJ alleged.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week sanctioned two people and four entities for being a part of Serb Republic President Milorad Dodik’s “patronage network” and supporting his “ongoing corruption,” including by allowing him to siphon public funds to enrich himself and his family. OFAC said Dodik uses his position in the Serb Republic, one of two entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina, to “accumulate personal wealth through graft, bribery, and other forms of corruption.”