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Compliance Kitchen

State Department Report on Russia


The Kitchen reviews the recent State Department report on RT and Sputnik’s Role in Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda Ecosystem.

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EMBARGOED!

EMBARGOED! Episode 43: Russia and Iran and China, Oh My!

This week on EMBARGOED!, Brian and Tim cover three of their favorite topics: Russia, Iran, and China. First, they discuss the latest U.S. threat to deploy Huawei-style foreign direct product rule restrictions on exports to Russia. Next, they consider whether it is truly now or never for JCPOA 2.0 and, then, contemplate the future of DOJ’s China Initiative in the wake of a high-profile dismissal. Finally, in the Lightning Round, Brian and Tim go below deck to provide some perspective on recent developments in a Helms-Burton lawsuit targeting major players in the cruise industry and share some quick thoughts on the new U.S. government advisory regarding Burma (Myanmar).

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Questions? Contact us at podcasts@milchev.com.
EMBARGOED! is not intended and cannot be relied on as legal advice; the content only reflects the thoughts and opinions of its hosts.
***Stay sanctions free.***

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Compliance Kitchen

Russia and FinCEN Updates


The Kitchen heads to Russia where another foreign NGO is marked as “undesirable.”  Back in the States, FinCEN is getting ready for another ransomware themed FinCEN Exchange.

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Compliance Kitchen

From Russia With Love


The Kitchen looks at what has been cooking in the Russia’s Prosecutor General’s office as they add several more foreign NGOs to its “undesirable entity” list.

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Compliance Kitchen

Russia Restrictions on Corporate Disclosures; OFAC updates Somalia sanctions


In this episode, we will touch on new Russia’s Restrictions on Corporate Disclosures; and OFAC’s updates to Somalia sanctions.

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Compliance Kitchen

Russia Sanctions Update


 Today, we review recent changes and additions to the US government sanctions on Russia.

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EMBARGOED!

EMBARGOED! Episode 28: To Russia With Love (and Sanctions)

On the latest episode, Brian and Tim dig in to the sweeping new Executive Order targeting Russian Harmful Foreign Activities to decipher what it means for the sanctions risk landscape in Russia and what may be coming next. We also check in on JCPOA 2.0 after an explosive week (literally) away from the negotiating table and go down the rabbit hole on the possible implications of China’s introduction of the digital yuan. Finally, in the Lightning Round, we share quick thoughts on the recent removal of the UAE from Treasury’s list of boycotting countries and a new legislative proposal that would expand CFIUS jurisdiction to certain transactions with U.S. institutions of higher education.

Subscribe: * Apple Podcasts Spotify *  Amazon Music  * Google Podcasts * Stitcher
Questions? Contact us at podcasts@milchev.com.
EMBARGOED! is not intended and cannot be relied on as legal advice; the content only reflects the thoughts and opinions of its hosts.
Timestamps:
0:10​ Introduction and Roadmap
The Rundown
4:56​ New Russia Sanctions
29:36​ Update on JCPOA 2.0
39:25​ China’s Cryptocurrency
54:30​ Lightning Round
54:52​ UAE Removed from Boycotting Countries List
1:02:07​ The Strategic Competition Act of 2021
1:09:49​ Final Thoughts
***Stay sanctions free.***

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EMBARGOED!

EMBARGOED! Episode 25: Are the Gloves Off With Respect to Russia?

On the latest episode, Brian and Tim review the recent series of U.S. actions targeting Russia for its treatment of Aleksey Navalny and debate whether U.S.-Russia relations have now reached a tipping point. Next, we discuss the first failed attempt to get JCPOA 2.0 off the ground, ponder what the U.S. will do about Myanmar in the face of worsening post-coup conditions, and share some key takeaways from OFAC’s recent settlement with BitPay. Finally, in the Lightning Round, we check in on the ICTS Supply Chain interim final rule, which appears to be here to stay, and briefly contemplate the prospects of the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2021.

Subscribe! * Apple Podcasts Spotify *  Amazon Music  * Google Podcasts * Stitcher
Questions? Contact us at podcasts@milchev.com.
EMBARGOED! is not intended and cannot be relied on as legal advice; the content only reflects the thoughts and opinions of its hosts.
Timestamps:
0:10 Introduction and Roadmap
The Rundown
6:04 Navalny and Russia
23:15 JCPOA 2.0
33:07 Quick Updates on Myanmar (and Yemen)
43:15 OFAC Settlement with Bitpay
50:14 Lightning Round
50:32 ICTS Supply Chain Final Rule is (Apparently) Here to Stay
56:45 U.S.-Cuba Trade Act
1:04:57 Final Thoughts
***Stay sanctions free.***

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Daily Compliance News

December 14, 2020-Russia Hacks edition


In today’s edition of Daily Compliance News:

  • NCAA turns on the student athlete. (WaPo)
  • Russia hacks US government. (WSJ)
  • AstraZeneca to Buy Alexion. (NYT)
  • BoJo says no-deal Brexit more likely. (BBC)
Categories
Compliance Man Chooses the Target

Compliance Risks in Russia

Welcome to Episode 5 of Compliance Man Chooses the Target with Tim Khasanov-Batirov.My goal is to highlight matters that should be on agenda of practitioners that deploy compliance programs in industries or countries of active FCPA enforcement. In each episode, I target three specific matters that you might like to address in the course of implementation of your compliance program. Today we will focus on compliance risks in Russia.
Target #1: Compliance Program.
Russia is number six in FCPA countdown of all times. In practice it means that, this jurisdiction should get your special attention in the course of deploying corporate compliance program. Your company could face risks in many business areas. What would be the best way to find out if you are on the safe side?  I suggest you to do assessment of the corporate compliance program in Russia based on the DOJ’s guidance called Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs.  The most effective way to do this exercise would be engagement of the outside counsel. While this tip might look obvious, I want to specifically mention the test, which should be addressed in order to get a full picture:

  • The international team from counsel side should consist of both US lawyers who have practical experience in FCPA matter along with Russian attorneys who would be able to tailor the US recommendations in accordance with Russian legislation.

I elaborate on importance of this test when we discuss the Target #3.
Target #2: Risk Assessment & Risk Appetite.
The vital part of your efforts on global arena is FCPA risk assessment. There is no chance that any company would be able to spend millions of dollars spreading compliance resources on unnecessary or minor issues.
In the very same time on practice, I have seen that sometimes company were not clear on particular risks they were trying to mitigate. In plain language, they were just wasting compliance resources by doing something for the sake of doing something. To be effective on a high-risk market you should define priorities, the most risky areas that you would like to address. As a second step, the company should define the risk appetite, or so to say, the internal standard on risk acceptance, that company agrees to take.
Target #3: Legislation.
While deploying international antibribery standards in the branch of your organization in Moscow do not ignore local laws.  The reasons are the following:

  • Sometimes Russian anticorruption legislation might contain provisions that in some instances are more restrictive than FCPA (for example, local requirement in certain cases to notify the former employer of your newly hired ex-governmental official);
  • Certain FCPA principles might collude local laws (for example, due diligence of your business partner should be construed not to breach Russian antitrust legislation);
  • Some pieces of legislation should be reviewed carefully prior to deployment of the compliance instruments (for example, Russian data privacy laws should be analyzed prior to launch of whistleblower line).

Join us for the next episode of Compliance Man Chooses the Target with Tim Khasanov-Batirov. 
Learn more compliance tips from Tim Khasanov-Batirov at:
http://complianceinpostussr.com/&http://complianceinpostussr.com/blog/