In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world. If you have any questions in respect of any of the developments set out below, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our London Global and Government Trade team listed above.
Russia Sanctions
- UK Government removes one entry from the UK sanctions list under the Russia regime: On January 30, 2025, OFSI removed Nikolay Ivanovich Bortsov from the UK sanctions list under the Russia regime. Nikolay Ivanovich Bortsov was a former Russia politician who sat in the State Duma before passing away in 2023. (Notice_Russia_300125.pdf).
- OFSI Amends General Licence Relating to the Oil Price Cap: On January 29, OFSI amended General Licence INT/2024/4423849, which permits the provision of certain services in relation to Russian oil or oil products subject to certain conditions, including compliance with the oil price cap and certain record-keeping and attestation requirements. The amendment to the General Licence updated Combined Nomenclature (CN) / Harmonized System (HS) commodity code for "Premium to Crude" which now falls under the commodity code "2710 19 42." (Russian Oil Services ban - GOV.UK ; OPC_GL_-_INT-2024-4423849_-_January_2025.pdf).
- UK High Court awards Google final anti-enforcement injunctions against Russian media outlets: In a judgment handed down on 22 January 2025 in Google LLC & Google Ireland Limited v. NAO Tsargrad Media & others [2025] EWHC 94 (Comm), the UK High Court upheld claims for final anti-enforcement (and ancillary anti-anti-suit) injunctive relief against three Russian-domiciled defendants after an expedited trial of four actions commenced in mid-August 2024. Russian media outlets NAO Tsargrad Media, TV-Novosti, and NO Fond Pravoslavnogo Televideniya had previously obtained Russian judgments after their YouTube channels were terminated for compliance with sanctions. The Russian judgments led to seizure of over £51.2 million in Google Russia assets. The High Court found that recent attempts to enforce abroad were 'exorbitant', with claimed penalties reaching '£1,850,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,' which the court noted 'is about 20 trillion times greater than the estimated GDP of all the economies in the world.' (https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2025/94.html ; https://www.reuters.com/technology/google-wins-uk-injunction-over-youtube-block-russian-broadcasters-2025-01-22/).
Belarus Sanctions
- UK Government adds nine entries to the UK sanctions list under the Belarus regime: On January 27, 2025, OFSI added nine entries to the UK sanctions regime (six individuals and three entities), including the Chairman of the Belarusian Central Election Commission. According to the UK Government, these sanctions target leaders of institutions responsible for serious human rights violations and companies in the Belarusian defence sector supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. (Notice_Belarus_270125.pdf; UK applies fresh sanctions following sham election in Belarus - GOV.UK).
Other Sanctions
- UK Foreign Affairs Committee to hold one-off oral evidence session: On February 4, 2025, the UK Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a one-off oral evidence session on the UK's sanctions strategy at 2pm. The evidence session will examine the UK's sanctions policy in full and the effectiveness of the different sanctions regime. Tom Keatinge (RUSI), Maya Lester KC (Brick Court Chambers), and Freya Page (Kharon) will appear to give evidence. (https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/78/foreign-affairs-committee/news/205043/how-successful-are-the-uks-sanctions-foreign-affairs-committee-to-hold-oneoff-evidence-session/; https://committees.parliament.uk/event/23211).
Visit us at mayerbrown.com
Mayer Brown is a global services provider comprising associated legal practices that are separate entities, including Mayer Brown LLP (Illinois, USA), Mayer Brown International LLP (England & Wales), Mayer Brown (a Hong Kong partnership) and Tauil & Chequer Advogados (a Brazilian law partnership) and non-legal service providers, which provide consultancy services (collectively, the "Mayer Brown Practices"). The Mayer Brown Practices are established in various jurisdictions and may be a legal person or a partnership. PK Wong & Nair LLC ("PKWN") is the constituent Singapore law practice of our licensed joint law venture in Singapore, Mayer Brown PK Wong & Nair Pte. Ltd. Details of the individual Mayer Brown Practices and PKWN can be found in the Legal Notices section of our website. "Mayer Brown" and the Mayer Brown logo are the trademarks of Mayer Brown.
© Copyright 2025. The Mayer Brown Practices. All rights reserved.
This Mayer Brown article provides information and comments on legal issues and developments of interest. The foregoing is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to the matters discussed herein.
