OFAC issued Russia-related General License (GL) 8A to authorize certain energy-related transactions involving the Central Bank of the Russian Federation that would be prohibited by the Russia-related Sovereign Transactions Directive (see FAQs 976 and 977).
OFAC issued GL 13 to authorize U.S. persons to pay taxes, fees, or import duties and purchase or receive permits, licenses, registrations, or certifications, to the extent such transactions are prohibited by the Russia-related Sovereign Transactions Directive, provided such transactions are ordinarily incident and necessary to such persons’ day-to-day operations in the Russian Federation. GLs 8A and 13 expire at 12:01am eastern daylight time, June 24, 2022.
In addition, OFAC issued GLs 9A and 10A. GL 9A authorizes all transactions prohibited by the Russia-related Sovereign Transactions Directive that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the receipt of interest, dividend, or maturity payments in connection with debt or equity 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 (collectively, “Directive 4 entities”). GL 10A authorizes all transactions prohibited by the Russia-related Sovereign Transactions Directive that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of derivative contracts, repurchase agreements, or reverse repurchase agreements entered into prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, March 1, 2022, that include a Directive 4 entity as a counterparty. Note that neither GL 9A nor GL 10A authorizes any debit to an account on the books of a U.S. financial institution of a Directive 4 entity. In addition, the prior authorizations of GLs 9 and 10 remain unchanged. GLs 9A and 10A expire at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, May 25, 2022.
OFAC also issued GL 14 authorizing certain transactions involving any Directive 4 entity where the Directive 4 entity’s sole function in the transaction is to act as an operator of a clearing and settlement system. GL 14 does not authorize any transfer of assets to or from any Directive 4 entity, or any transaction where a Directive 4 entity is either a counterparty or beneficiary to the transaction. In addition, GL 14 does not authorize any debit to an account on the books of a U.S. financial institution of any Directive 4 entity. (See FAQ 1003)