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Frequently Asked Questions

886. What does Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Blocking Property with Respect to Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation” do?

E.O . 14024 establishes a new national emergency under which sanctions may be imposed against individuals and entities furthering specified harmful foreign activities of the Russian Federation.  This national emergency is separate from the national emergency… Read more

887. Are persons identified pursuant to Executive order (E.O.) 13662 as subject to Directive 3 for operating in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy blocked pursuant to the E.O. of April 15, 2021?

Persons identified pursuant to E.O. 13662 as subject to Directive 3 for operating in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy are not subject to prohibitions under the E.O. of April 15, 2021 unless those persons are also… Read more

888. What does Directive 1A under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Certain Sovereign Debt of the Russian Federation” (Russia-related Sovereign Debt Directive) do?

Pursuant to the Russia-related Sovereign Debt Directive, the following activities by a U.S. financial institution are prohibited: As of June 14, 2021, participation in the primary market for ruble or non-ruble denominated bonds issued after June 14, 2021 by… Read more

889. Does Directive 1A under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Certain Sovereign Debt of the Russian Federation” (Russia-related Sovereign Debt Directive) prohibit participation in the secondary market for bonds issued by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation?

Yes (see FAQ 888 and FAQ 965). Date Updated: February 22, 2022

890. Prior to June 14, 2021, are U.S. financial institutions prohibited from participating in the primary market for ruble or non-ruble denominated bonds issued by, or lending ruble or non-ruble denominated funds to, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation?

Even prior to June 14, 2021, “U.S. banks” were prohibited from participating in the primary market for non-ruble denominated bonds issued by the Russian sovereign (including the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian… Read more

891. Does the 50 Percent Rule apply to Directive 1A under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Certain Sovereign Debt of the Russian Federation” (Russia-related Sovereign Debt Directive)?

No.  The prohibitions of the Russia-related Sovereign Debt Directive apply only to bonds issued by, or loans made to, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance of the Russian… Read more

894. What does Russia-related General License (GL) 1A authorize?

Russia-related GL 1A authorizes U.S. persons to engage in certain transactions and activities otherwise prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) of August 20, 2021, “Blocking Property with Respect to Certain Russian Energy Export Pipelines,” or the Protecting… Read more

921. What is the purpose of Executive Order (E.O.) of August 20, 2021, “Blocking Property with Respect to Certain Russian Energy Export Pipelines”?

The Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019, 22 U.S.C. 9526 note, as amended (PEESA), requires the imposition of sanctions with respect to the provision of vessels engaged in specified activities for the construction of certain Russian energy export… Read more

964. Does the financial services sector determination made by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 mean that all persons that operate or have operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy are sanctioned by OFAC?

No.  The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, has issued a determination pursuant to E.O. 14024 that authorizes sanctions against persons that operate or have operated in the financial services sector of the Russian… Read more

965. How does Directive 1A under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Certain Sovereign Debt of the Russian Federation” (Russia-related Sovereign Debt Directive) change prohibitions relating to U.S. financial institution dealings in Russian sovereign debt pursuant to Directive 1 under E.O. 14024 of April 15, 2021?

Directive 1 under E.O. 14024 of April 15, 2021 imposed prohibitions on participation in the primary market for ruble or non-ruble denominated bonds issued by, or the lending of ruble or non-ruble denominated funds to, the Central Bank of the Russian… Read more

966. What actions did Treasury take in February 2022 related to Russia’s financial services sector pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024?

Treasury took expansive sanctions actions related to Russia’s financial services sector in February 2022 as detailed below. Financial services sector determination.  On February 22, 2022, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of… Read more

967. What does Directive 2 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (Russia-related CAPTA Directive) prohibit?

The Russia-related CAPTA Directive prohibits U.S. financial institutions from:  (i) the opening or maintaining of a correspondent account or payable-through account for or on behalf of foreign financial institutions determined to be subject to the… Read more

968. What foreign financial institutions are listed in Annex 1 to Directive 2 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (Russia-related CAPTA Directive)?  

Annex 1 to the Russia-related CAPTA Directive identifies Public Joint Stock Company Sberbank of Russia as well as many of its foreign financial institution subsidiaries.  The foreign financial institutions listed in Annex 1 have been determined to be subject… Read more

969. Does OFAC’s 50 Percent Rule apply to foreign financial institutions listed in Annex 1 to Directive 2 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (Russia-related CAPTA Directive)?

Yes.  The prohibitions of the Russia-related CAPTA Directive apply to any foreign financial institution listed in Annex 1 to the Russia-related CAPTA Directive or otherwise determined to be subject to the prohibitions of the Russia-related CAPTA Directive, “… Read more

970. Are foreign financial institutions (FFIs) located outside of Russia potentially subject to the prohibitions of Directive 2 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (Russia-related CAPTA Directive)?

Yes.  The prohibitions of the Russia-related CAPTA Directive apply to a U.S. financial institution’s opening or maintaining of a correspondent account or payable-through account for or on behalf of, or processing of a transaction involving, any FFI, wherever… Read more

971. Are the prohibitions of Directive 2 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (Russia-related CAPTA Directive) limited to transactions denominated in U.S. dollars? 

No.  The prohibitions of the Russia-related CAPTA Directive apply with respect to any currency.  For example, a foreign branch of a U.S. financial institution may not open or maintain a correspondent account for or on behalf of, or process a transaction… Read more

972. Do non-U.S. financial institutions have to comply with the prohibitions of Directive 2 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (Russia-related CAPTA Directive)?

Under the Russia-related CAPTA Directive, U.S. financial institutions are prohibited from the opening or maintaining of a correspondent account or payable-through account for or on behalf of, or from processing of a transaction involving, a foreign financial… Read more

973. I am a U.S. individual or company that maintains an account at a foreign financial institution sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024.  What are my obligations? 

With respect to foreign financial institutions subject to the prohibitions of Directive 2 under E.O. 14024 , “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (… Read more

974. What Russian financial institutions were blocked in February 2022 pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, and what activities are prohibited as a result?

On February 22, 2022, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated specified Russian financial institutions pursuant to E.O. 14024 , including the State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs Vnesheconombank (VEB),… Read more

975. Is there a wind-down period for transactions involving the Russian financial institutions blocked in February 2022 pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024? What transactions are authorized during the wind-down period?  

For certain Russian financial institutions blocked in February 2022 pursuant to E.O. 14024, a short-term wind-down period is authorized.  General License (GL) 3 authorizes a wind-down period of 30 days for transactions involving State Corporation Bank for… Read more