2022-26135. Publication of Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations Web General License 53

AGENCY:

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION:

Publication of Web General License.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing one general license (GL) issued pursuant to the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations: GL 53, which was previously made available on OFAC's website.

DATES:

GL 53 was issued on November 10, 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

On November 10, 2022, OFAC issued GL 53 to authorize certain transactions otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587. The GL was made available on OFAC's website ( www.treas.gov/​ofac) when it was issued. The text of the GL is provided below.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR Part 587

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 53

Authorizing Transactions for Diplomatic Missions of the Russian Federation Prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order 14024

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this general license, U.S. persons are authorized to engage in all transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the official business of diplomatic or consular missions of the Government of the Russian Federation (“Russian missions”), where the transactions are 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.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this general license, U.S. persons are authorized to engage in all transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the compensation of employees of Russian missions, including payment of salaries and reimbursement of expenses, where the transactions are prohibited by Directive 4 under E.O. 14024.

(c) This general license does not authorize:

(1) 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; or

(2) Any transactions otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR), including transactions involving any person blocked pursuant to the RuHSR, unless separately authorized.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: November 10, 2022.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.