Sanctions Notice - Crimea & Sevastopol and Yemen

There have been a number of developments in relation to the Bailiwick’s sanctions regime.  Measures which should be taken as a result are set out at the end of this notice. 

CRIMEA AND SEVASTOPOL

The Crimea and Sevastopol (Restrictive Measures) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2014 has been amended by the Crimea and Sevastopol (Restrictive Measures) (Guernsey) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014.  The amendment Ordinance has been made in light of revisions to European Council Regulation 692/2014 made by Council Regulation 1351/2014.  

The revisions to Council Regulation 692/2014 provide for a ban on all foreign investments in Crimea and Sevastopol.  They also provide for a prohibition on services directly related to the investment ban, as well as services related to tourism activities, including in the maritime sector, and in the sectors of transport, telecommunications, energy and exploitation of oil, gas and minerals in Crimea and Sevastopol.  In addition, the former export prohibition on goods and technology in the sectors of transport, telecommunications, energy and exploitation of oil, gas and minerals has been broadened. 

Most of the revisions to Council Regulation 692/2014 do not require new Guernsey legislation as they are already covered under the ambulatory provision in the Crimea and Sevastopol (Restrictive Measures) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2014. The amendment Ordinance incorporates the new EU measures in relation to cruise ships.    

Further information can be found on the States of Guernsey website at: http://www.gov.gg/sanctionsukraine.

YEMEN

The Yemen (Restrictive Measures) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2014 has been made in light of European Council Regulation 1352/2014.  The Council Regulation introduces a new sanctions framework in view of the situation in Yemen, and includes provisions on travel restrictions and the freezing of funds and economic resources of designated persons or entities. 

MEASURES WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN

All businesses must familiarise themselves with the prohibitions and restrictions in respect of Crimea and Sevastopol, and refrain from taking on or continuing any business activity which directly or indirectly supports the activities prohibited or restricted by the EU.  Businesses must report any findings to the Policy Council immediately.

In relation to the Yemen (Restrictive Measures) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2014 all businesses must check whether they maintain any accounts or otherwise have any kind of relationship with any person or entity designated under the legislation and treat any accounts, funds or economic resources belonging to, owned, held or controlled by a designated person or entity as frozen with immediate effect if this is not already the case. Businesses must report any findings to the Policy Council immediately. Businesses must also refrain from making any funds or economic resources available directly or indirectly to any designated person unless authorised by the Policy Council.

The information referred to above is required by the Policy Council in the exercise of its powers under the Schedule to the Crimea and Sevastopol (Restrictive Measures) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2014 and the Yemen (Restrictive Measures) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2014. 

Any information or queries should be sent to [email protected]/* */ with the subject line “Crimea and Sevastopol/Yemen sanctions” (as the case may be).

Further information on the effect of asset freezes and related issues is available on the States of Guernsey website at http://www.gov.gg/sanctions.