[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 174 (Friday, September 9, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55279-55281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19510]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Foreign Assets Control

31 CFR Part 587


Publication of Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions 
Regulations Web General Licenses 14, 15, 16, 17, 17A, 18, 19, and 20

AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION: Publication of Web General Licenses.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets 
Control (OFAC) is publishing eight general licenses (GLs) issued in the 
Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions program: GLs 14, 15, 16, 
17, 17A, 18, 19, and 20, each of which was previously made available on 
OFAC's website.

DATES: GL 14 was issued on March 2, 2022. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
for additional relevant dates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFAC: Assistant Director for 
Licensing, 202-622-2480; Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs, 
202-622-4855; or Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance & 
Evaluation, 202-622-2490.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Availability

    This document and additional information concerning OFAC are 
available on OFAC's website: www.treas.gov/ofac.

Background

    OFAC issued each of these eight GLs to authorize certain activities 
prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions 
Regulations, 31 CFR part 587. On March 2, 2022, OFAC issued GL 14; on 
March 3, 2022, OFAC issued GL 15; on March 8, 2022, OFAC issued GL 16, 
with an expiration date of April 22, 2022; on March 11, 2022, OFAC 
issued GL 17, with an expiration date of March 25, 2022. On March 24, 
2022, OFAC issued GL 17A, which superseded GL 17. GL 17A had different 
expiration dates for different provisions: paragraph (a) of GL 17A had 
an expiration date of March 25, 2022, and paragraph (b) had an 
expiration date of June 23, 2022. On March 11, 2022, OFAC issued GLs 18 
and 19; and on March 24, 2022, OFAC issued GL 20.
    At the time of issuance, OFAC made GLs 14, 15, 16, 17, 17A, 18, 19, 
and 20 available on its website (www.treas.gov/ofac). The text of these 
GLs is provided below.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations

31 CFR Part 587

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 14

Authorizing Certain Clearing and Settlement Transactions Prohibited by 
Directive 4 Under Executive Order 14024

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, 
all transactions prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order (E.O.) 
14024, Prohibitions Related to Transactions Involving the Central Bank 
of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian 
Federation, and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, 
involving the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National 
Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance of 
the Russian Federation (collectively, ``Directive 4 entities''), where 
the Directive 4 entity's sole function in the transaction is to act as 
an operator of a clearing and settlement system, are authorized, 
provided that: (i) there is no transfer of assets to or from any 
Directive 4 entity, unless separately authorized; and (ii) no Directive 
4 entity is either a counterparty or a beneficiary to the transaction, 
unless separately authorized.
    (b) This general license does not authorize any debit to an account 
on the books of a U.S. financial institution of any Directive 4 entity.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: March 2, 2022.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations

31 CFR Part 587

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 15

Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Blocked Entities Owned by 
Alisher Burhanovich Usmanov

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this general license, 
all transactions prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities 
Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR), involving any entity 
owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Alisher 
Burhanovich Usmanov that is not listed on OFAC's Specially Designated 
Nationals and Blocked Persons List (``blocked Usmanov entity'') are 
authorized.

[[Page 55280]]

    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this general license, 
all property and interests in property of the blocked Usmanov entities 
are unblocked, and debits to accounts on the books of a U.S. financial 
institution of the blocked Usmanov entities are authorized.
    (c) This general license does not authorize any transactions 
otherwise prohibited by the RuHSR or involving any person blocked or 
otherwise sanctioned pursuant to the RuHSR, including Alisher 
Burhanovich Usmanov, or his property or interests in property, other 
than the blocked Usmanov entities, unless separately authorized.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: March 3, 2022.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations

31 CFR Part 587

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 16

Authorizing Transactions Related to Certain Imports Prohibited by 
Executive Order of March 8, 2022

Prohibiting Certain Imports and New Investments With Respect to 
Continued Russian Federation Efforts To Undermine the Sovereignty and 
Territorial Integrity of Ukraine

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, 
all transactions prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) of March 8, 2022, 
Prohibiting Certain Imports and New Investments With Respect to 
Continued Russian Federation Efforts to Undermine the Sovereignty and 
Territorial Integrity of Ukraine, that are ordinarily incident and 
necessary to the importation into the United States of crude oil; 
petroleum; petroleum fuels, oils, and products of their distillation; 
liquefied natural gas; coal; and coal products of Russian Federation 
origin pursuant to written contracts or written agreements entered 
prior to March 8, 2022 are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern 
daylight time, April 22, 2022.
    (b) This general license does not authorize any transactions 
otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities 
Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR), including involving any 
person blocked pursuant to the RuHSR, unless separately authorized.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: March 8, 2022.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations

31 CFR Part 587

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 17

Authorizing Transactions Related to Certain Imports Prohibited by 
Executive Order of March 11, 2022

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, 
all transactions prohibited by section 1(a)(i) of Executive Order of 
March 11, 2022, Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New 
Investment With Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression, 
that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the importation into the 
United States of fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; alcoholic 
beverages; or non-industrial diamonds of Russian Federation origin 
pursuant to written contracts or written agreements entered into prior 
to March 11, 2022 are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight 
time, March 25, 2022.
    (b) This general license does not authorize any transactions 
otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities 
Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR), including involving any 
person blocked pursuant to the RuHSR, unless separately authorized.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: March 11, 2022.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations

31 CFR Part 587

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 17A

Authorizing Transactions Related to Certain Imports Prohibited by 
Executive Order 14068

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this general license, 
all transactions prohibited by section 1(a)(i) of Executive Order 
(E.O.) 14068 that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the 
importation into the United States of alcoholic beverages or non-
industrial diamonds of Russian Federation origin pursuant to written 
contracts or written agreements entered into prior to March 11, 2022 
are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 25, 
2022.
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this general license, 
all transactions prohibited by section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14068 that are 
ordinarily incident and necessary to the importation into the United 
States of fish, seafood, and preparations thereof of Russian Federation 
origin pursuant to written contracts or written agreements entered into 
prior to March 11, 2022 are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern 
daylight time, June 23, 2022.
    (c) This general license does not authorize any transactions 
otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities 
Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR), including involving any 
person blocked pursuant to the RuHSR, unless separately authorized.
    (d) Effective March 24, 2022, General License No. 17, dated March 
11, 2022, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General 
License No. 17A.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: March 24, 2022.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations

31 CFR Part 587

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 18

Authorizing U.S. Dollar-Denominated Banknote Noncommercial, Personal 
Remittances Prohibited by Executive Order of March 11, 2022

    (a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, 
all transactions prohibited by section (1)(a)(iv) of Executive Order of 
March 11, 2022, Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New 
Investment With Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression, 
that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the transfer of U.S. 
dollar-denominated banknote noncommercial, personal remittances from: 
(i) the United States or a U.S. person, wherever located, to an 
individual located in the Russian Federation; or (ii) a U.S. person who 
is an individual located in the Russian Federation, are authorized.

    Note to paragraph (a)(1). Noncommercial, personal remittances do 
not include charitable donations to or for the benefit of an entity 
or funds transfers for use in supporting or operating a business, 
including a family-owned business.

    (2) Transferring institutions may rely on the originator of a funds 
transfer with regard to compliance with paragraph (a)(1) of this 
general license, provided that the transferring institution does not 
know or have reason to know that the funds transfer is not in 
compliance with paragraph (a)(1).

[[Page 55281]]

    (b) This general license does not authorize any transactions 
otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities 
Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR), or involving any person 
blocked pursuant to RuHSR, unless separately authorized.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: March 11, 2022.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations

31 CFR Part 587

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 19

Authorizing Transactions Related to Personal Maintenance of U.S. 
Individuals Located in the Russian Federation Prohibited by Executive 
Order of March 11, 2022

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, 
individuals who are U.S. persons located in the Russian Federation are 
authorized to engage in all transactions prohibited by section 1(a)(iv) 
of Executive Order of March 11, 2022, Prohibiting Certain Imports, 
Exports, and New Investment With Respect to Continued Russian 
Federation Aggression, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to 
their personal maintenance within the Russian Federation, including 
payment of housing expenses, acquisition of goods or services for 
personal use, payment of taxes or fees, and purchase or receipt of 
permits, licenses, or public utility services.
    (b) This general license does not authorize any transactions 
otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities 
Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR), including involving any 
person blocked pursuant to the RuHSR, unless separately authorized.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: March 11, 2022.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations

31 CFR Part 587

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 20

Authorizing Third-Country Diplomatic and Consular Funds Transfers

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, 
U.S. persons are authorized to engage in all transactions ordinarily 
incident and necessary to the official business of third-country 
diplomatic or consular missions located in the Russian Federation that 
are prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 or section 1(a)(iv) of 
E.O. 14068.
    (b) This general license does not authorize:
    (1) The opening or maintaining of a correspondent account or 
payable-through account for or on behalf of any entity subject to 
Directive 2 under E.O. 14024, Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or 
Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving 
Certain Foreign Financial Institutions;
    (2) Any debit to an account on the books of a U.S. financial 
institution of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National 
Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance of 
the Russian Federation;
    (3) The exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or 
indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, 
wherever located, of U.S. dollar-denominated banknotes to the 
Government of the Russian Federation, other than the payment of taxes 
or fees, and purchase or receipt of permits, licenses, or public 
utility services; or
    (4) Any transactions otherwise involving any person blocked 
pursuant to the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions 
Regulations, 31 CFR part 587, unless separately authorized.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: March 24, 2022.

Andrea M. Gacki,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. 2022-19510 Filed 9-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AL-P