The key facts

  • OFAC sanctions targeted Russians Ilya Boykov and Vitold Obertas, as well as eight North Korean citizens.
  • Sanctions were also imposed on the Vladivostok-based company First Financial and Technical Development Center.
  • The measures were introduced as part of restrictions against North Korea, the US Treasury Department said.

New sanctions under restrictions targeting North Korea

The United States imposed sanctions on two Russian citizens as part of restrictions against North Korea, the US Treasury Department reported on October 28. The measures by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted Russians Ilya Boykov and Vitold Obertas; in addition, eight more North Korean citizens were added to the sanctions list. Gazeta.Ru, citing the Treasury Department, notes that the restrictions also affected the Vladivostok-based company First Financial and Technical Development Center.

Context: parallel signals about a possible easing of other restrictions

The new expansion of the sanctions list comes amid reports of possible movement in the opposite direction on certain restrictions. According to The New York Times, citing sources, the administration of US President Donald Trump is considering lifting sanctions against the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Earlier, on October 24, it was reported that Trump plans to ease sanctions on Russian fertilizers — according to available information, the American leader's administration may take such a step as part of efforts to settle the conflict in Ukraine. These reports concern other categories of restrictions and do not cancel the measures imposed over North Korea: the sanctions against Boykov, Obertas, and the Vladivostok company have already been adopted, whereas the discussed relaxations remain merely plans reported by media sources.