GEO-POWER-EU’s Post

Violation of EU sanctions will be finally criminally punishable! As of 19 May 2024, the new rules on criminal liability for breaching the EU sanctions regulations came into force. The European Commission has specified a list of conducts considered criminal offenses, such as making funds available to a sanctioned person, failing to freeze funds, providing prohibited or restricted economic and financial services, etc.  The Commission has also determined the requirements for penalties for natural and legal persons, as well as aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Member States shall bring all the national laws and procedures necessary to comply with these new rules by 20 May 2025. For more details, please go to the official Commission's website: https://lnkd.in/e3Wtgqzg We will probably see the first verdicts all over Europe not earlier than in a year. Still, we hope this legal novelty will decrease the number of sanctions violations!

Protecting the Integrity of Our Elections In a significant move to safeguard our democratic process, the US Departments of Justice and Treasury have announced parallel actions to counter #Russian government-sponsored attempts to manipulate public opinion ahead of the #2024election. Key Highlights: Indictment of two RT (Russian-owned network) employees for conspiring to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act Uncovering of a $10 million scheme to spread Russian-favorable content via US #socialmedia influencers Seizure of 32 internet domains used by Russian actors to influence the US election Treasury sanctions on 10 individuals and 2 entities for "malign influence efforts" Why it matters: As professionals, we must recognize the critical importance of preserving the integrity of our elections. Foreign interference can have far-reaching consequences, undermining trust in our institutions and eroding the foundations of our democracy.

🗳 With Venezuela's elections coming this Sunday, July 28th and opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia leading Nicolas Maduro by 25-30 points in polls, there is one question that that we must all ask: "Will Maduro respect the will of Venezuelans if he loses?" More on the situation: https://lnkd.in/ehWWbDES Yesterday, six days from election day, I was pleased to join the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) for the launch of Venezuela: A playbook for digital repression, a new report by Iria Puyosa, Andrés Azpúrua, and Daniel Suarez Perez which highlights the repressive practices of the Maduro regime within Venezuela and around Latin America. The report provides a comprehensive view of how Venezuela has become a model for digital authoritarianism globally and an exporter of democratic backsliding to the rest of the Americas. It is critical reading for anyone (read: everyone!) with an interest in stopping the global spread of authoritarianism and defending democracy. Launch discussion (timed-up to my commentary at 32:33): https://lnkd.in/eRbvVf9x Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/e_YcUV6q #Venezuela #democracy #authoritarianism

Venezuela's post-election crisis is escalating. The Maduro regime, utilizing a sophisticated surveillance apparatus built over years, is cracking down on dissent with brutal force. Over 2,000 arrests, numerous deaths, and disappearances are reported. This is the culmination of decades of systemic control: censorship, infrastructure decline, harassment, disinformation, and surveillance to stifle information and oppress a population grappling with poverty. https://lnkd.in/eM5ZqyC6 #VenezuelaCrisis #HumanRights #DigitalRights

Venezuela Election Crisis: Understanding the Turmoil The recent presidential election in Venezuela has led to significant unrest and international concern. Here's how the situation has developed: 1) Controversial Election Results Maduro’s victory with 51.2% of the vote faces widespread fraud allegations. 2) Widespread Protests Citizens globally demand transparency and democratic principles. 3) Violence and Repression Severe governmental crackdowns have led to deaths and arrests. 4) Calls for Transparency International bodies, including the Carter Center, call for a detailed audit. 5) Global Division The US and EU reject the results, while Russia and China support Maduro, causing diplomatic tensions. 6) Diplomatic Tensions The crisis worsens as Venezuela expels diplomats, further isolating itself. Swipe through to understand the full story. #Venezuela #VenezuelaElection #GlobalPolitics

Excited to be joining this The Sanctions Consortium webinar with Stéphanie and Tyler looking at how the many elections of 2024 have and will likely impact the world of sanctions. Should be a fascinating discussion, especially as the US election draws close. We will explore how you can stay up-to-date with latest developments and examine what the implications are for sanctions on Russia, China and others of this busy year. To register please follow the link in the original post. #sanctions #sanctionscompliance #thesanctionsconsortium #politics

2/2 Metrics used by Freedom House exposed false narratives delivered by both 🇮🇱 Israel and 🇵🇸 Gaza (Palestine) in regards to the conflict. The reality in both entities is that freedoms have plummeted beyond any expectation. 🗳️ Election manipulation and violence were key factors in the global decline of freedom. 🇪🇨 Ecuador was downgraded from Free to Partly Free following violent disruptions by criminal groups during elections. Incumbents in countries such as 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇵🇱 Poland and 🇹🇷 Turkey impeded fair competition or obstructed opponents from assuming power. Civilians in 🇵🇸 Gaza (Palestine), 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 🇸🇩 Sudan bore the brunt of armed conflicts and threats of authoritarian aggression. 🇷🇺 Russia’s ongoing invasion of 🇺🇦 Ukraine degraded basic rights in occupied territories and prompting more intense repression in Russia itself. The democratically elected governments of 🇮🇱 Israel and 🇮🇳 India were complicit in violating the basic rights of those in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (🇵🇸 Palestine) and Indian-administered Kashmir, respectively. 🇨🇳 China and 🇷🇺 Russia continued their assault on the rights of the residents of 🇭🇰 Hong Kong and 🕉️ Tibet, and Russian-occupied 🇺🇦 Crimea, respectively. Only one disputed or unrecognized territory was described as ‘free’, northern Cyprus. Check out the report here 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/dktxNg7f

Last week, the UK Government updated the #Sanctions regime, imposing more restrictions on Russia. There were 8 updates in May, and there have been 38 so far this year, with likely further to come following the G7 summit. Not only are sanctions lists updated regularly. Recently, we've had European Parliamentary elections, by-elections / local elections here in the UK, a UK general election next month, elections in France, elections in the US later this year, and many more from around the world. It's crucial that you stay on top of these changes and ensure you apply the right level of #duediligence to existing and new customers. How are you currently tracking these changes? Our PEPs and Sanctions solution can help your firm stay compliant with real-time results and proactive, daily ongoing monitoring. Get in touch with Rhian Del-Valle or Stephen Lawes if you'd like to learn more about how we can help.

🗳️ The US Presidential Election: what does it mean for #Geopolitics and Regulatory #Compliance? In a year where over a billion people have already gone to the polls, the November US elections will have impact far beyond Washington D.C. With presidential candidates diverging strongly on foreign policy, regulation, and trade policy, what should legal and compliance teams be taking into consideration to protect their organisations? ACC Europe – Association of Corporate Counsel invite you to join our webinar on 24 September where Control Risks’ experts from both the US and Europe will share insights into the following, drawing on their experience of working with a range of organisations seeking to understand the global business implications of the 2024 elections: ❔ What could the outcome mean for global security, supply chains and geopolitics? 🏛 Will the US continue to play a leading role in shaping the regulatory compliance agenda? 📈 The US is the EU’s largest trade partner – how will the election outcome impact Europe? 🌐 What does a new president mean for the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict? 🛑 How will this impact the sanctions landscape in the near term? 🚨 What does the outcome of the elections mean for enforcement? ➡➡➡ Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eYnjX4gS   And thanks to our excellent panel: Brian Mich | Jonathan Wood | Meredith Morrison | Alexandra Kellert #ACCE #AssociationofCorporateCounsel

The good news is that support for the Mr Borissov-Peevski model of government has reached the limits of its shelf life. Twenty-five years ago, its proponents secured a ruling majority that forced a succession of banking crises, impoverishment and mass emigration. To keep the majority of Bulgarians away from the ballot box this time, they have discredited the virtues of electoral democracy by maximising bought and controlled votes. Such a governing formula is unsustainable and sooner or later ends in autocracy. The bad news is that the Radev-Borissov-Peevski triad is fully capable of creating this formula of power in Bulgaria.  https://lnkd.in/ddATMKRH