Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act Annual Report, 174-178 [2020-29015]
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174
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2021 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 11288]
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collection: Career Connections
Evaluation
Notice of request for public
comment.
ACTION:
The Department of State is
seeking Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approval for the
information collection described below.
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, we are
requesting comments on this collection
from all interested individuals and
organizations. The purpose of this
notice is to allow 60 days for public
comment preceding submission of the
collection to OMB.
DATES: The Department will accept
comments from the public up to March
5, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by the following method:
• Web: Persons with access to the
internet may comment on this notice by
going to www.Regulations.gov. You can
search for the document by entering
‘‘Docket Number: DOS–2020–0055’’ in
the Search field. Then click the
‘‘Comment Now’’ button and complete
the comment form.
You must include the DS form
number (if applicable), information
collection title, and the OMB control
number in any correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct requests for additional
information regarding the collection
listed in this notice, including requests
for copies of the proposed collection
instrument and supporting documents,
may be sent to Natalie Donahue, Chief
of Evaluation, Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs, who may be
reached at (202) 632–6193 or
ecaevaluation@state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
• Title of Information Collection:
Career Connections Evaluation.
• OMB Control Number: None.
• Type of Request: New collection.
• Originating Office: Educational and
Cultural Affairs (ECA/P/V).
• Form Number: No form.
• Respondents: Career Connections
program alumni, small sample of
American alumni, and seminar
presenters.
• Estimated Number of Alumni
Survey Respondents: 3,125.
• Estimated Number of Alumni
Survey Responses: 313.
• Average Time per Alumni Survey:
20 minutes.
SUMMARY:
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• Total Estimated Alumni Survey
Burden Time: 104.33 hours.
• Estimated Number of Alumni Key
Informants: 45.
• Average Time per Alumni
Interview: 1 hour.
• Total Estimated Alumni Interview
Burden Time: 45 hours.
• Estimated Number of Seminar
Presenter Key Informants: 15.
• Average Time per Seminar
Presenter Interview: 0.75 hour.
• Total Estimated Seminar Presenter
Interview Burden Time: 11.25 hours.
• Total Estimated Burden Time:
160.58 annual hours.
• Frequency: Once.
• Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
We are soliciting public comments to
permit the Department to:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary for
the proper functions of the Department.
• Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the time and cost burden for
this proposed collection, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected.
• Minimize the reporting burden on
those who are to respond, including the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Please note that comments submitted
in response to this Notice are public
record. Before including any detailed
personal information, you should be
aware that your comments as submitted,
including your personal information,
will be available for public review.
Abstract of Proposed Collection
The Career Connections program is
managed by the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Office of
Alumni Affairs OAA. Started in 2019,
the Career Connections program brings
together American alumni (18–35 years
old) of U.S. Government-sponsored
exchange programs with expert career
coaches, professionals from diverse
fields, and international leaders to help
alumni market their international
exchange experiences. Delivered as twoday seminars across the country, the
Career Connections program provides
invaluable networking opportunities for
U.S. alumni with leaders in their
communities with activities including:
Resume-building, developing a personal
brand, translating skills gained through
the exchange experience, developing an
online presence, and networking to
develop connections with fellow alumni
and expert speakers alike.
ECA’s Evaluation Division will
undertake an internal evaluation of the
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Career Connections program. The
purpose of this evaluation is to inform
the next iteration of the award with
participant-driven recommendations on
how to strengthen the Career
Connections program. The Evaluation
Division will survey participants of
Career Connections participants along
with a small sample of alumni that have
not participated in seminars, as well as
conduct key-informant interviews with
alumni and seminar presenters.
Methodology
As existing project monitoring data
does not cover the topics being
investigated sufficiently, it is necessary
to collect information directly from
program alumni to fully understand
how the Career Connections program
can be strengthened and what the
immediate outcomes for participants
are. While alumni who have
participated in the Career Connections
program will receive an online survey,
a small number will also be invited to
participate in individual interviews to
explore key issues in greater depth. The
survey will also be sent to a small
sample of alumni that have not
participated in Career Connections
seminars to understand why they
haven’t participated and how they could
be enticed to in the future. Finally, as
ECA wishes to understand best practices
in professional development training, a
small group of seminar presenters will
be invited to participate in individual
interviews to discuss what they feel
could be strengthened.
Aleisha Woodward,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2020–29050 Filed 12–31–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 11279]
Global Magnitsky Human Rights
Accountability Act Annual Report
ACTION:
Notice.
This notice contains the text
of the report required by the Global
Magnitsky Human Rights
Accountability Act, as submitted by the
Secretary of State.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob
Viglietta, Email: VigliettaR@state.gov,
Phone: (202) 647–8836.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
December 10, 2020, the Secretary of
State approved the following report
pursuant to the Global Magnitsky
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2021 / Notices
Human Rights Accountability Act (Pub.
L. 114–328, Title XII, Subtitle F) (‘‘the
Act’’), which is implemented and built
upon by Executive Order 13818 of
December 20, 2017, ‘‘Executive Order
Blocking the Property of Persons
Involved in Serious Human Rights
Abuse or Corruption’’ (E.O. 13818). The
text of the report follows:
Pursuant to Section 1264 of the Act,
and in accordance with E.O. 13818, the
Secretary of State, in consultation with
the Secretary of the Treasury, submits
this report to detail the Administration’s
implementation of the Act in 2020.
In 2020, the United States took
significant action under the Global
Magnitsky sanctions program (‘‘Global
Magnitsky’’). As of December 10, 2020,
the United States has designated 243
foreign persons (individuals and
entities) pursuant to E.O. 13818. This
sanctions program, which targets
serious human rights abusers, corrupt
actors, and their enablers, represents the
best of the United States’ values by
taking impactful steps to protect and
promote human rights and combat
corruption around the world. Through
the Act and E.O. 13818, the United
States has sought to disrupt and deter
serious human rights abuse and
corruption abroad; promote
accountability for those who act with
impunity; and protect, promote, and
enforce longstanding international
norms alongside our partners and allies.
As the President outlined in his
National Security Strategy (NSS),
liberty, free enterprise, equal justice
under the law, and the dignity of every
human life are values that represent
who we are as a people. Further, the
NSS states we support with our words
and actions those who live under
oppressive regimes and seek freedom,
individual dignity, and the rule of law.
The NSS outlines a commitment to
combat global corruption that facilitates
transnational crime and terrorism and
undermines economic growth. Through
Global Magnitsky, the Administration is
taking action to execute the President’s
vision as described in the NSS.
Actions taken in 2020 continue to
demonstrate the reach, flexibility, and
broad scope of the Global Magnitsky
authorities. The United States
responded to serious human rights
abuses and corruption globally,
addressing some of the most egregious
behavior this tool can attempt to disrupt
and deter. These actions targeted,
among other things, serious human
rights abusers affecting millions of
members of Muslim minority groups in
northwest China’s Xinjiang province;
corrupt actors in South Sudan involved
in draining the country of critical
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resources; and Ugandan officials
engaged in an adoption scam that
victimized Ugandan-born children.
These designations clearly demonstrate
the resolve of the Administration to
leverage this important tool, when
appropriate, to target individuals and
entities engaging in specified conduct.
When considering economic
sanctions under Global Magnitsky, the
United States prioritizes actions that are
expected to produce a tangible and
significant impact on the sanctioned
persons and their affiliates and prompt
changes in behavior or disrupt the
activities of malign actors. Persons
sanctioned pursuant to this authority
appear on the Office of Foreign Assets
Control’s (OFAC) List of Specially
Designated Nationals and Blocked
Persons (SDN List). As a result of these
actions, all property and interests in
property of the sanctioned persons that
are in the United States or in the
possession or control of U.S. persons,
are blocked and must be reported to
OFAC. Unless authorized by a general
or specific license issued by OFAC or
otherwise exempt, OFAC’s regulations
generally prohibit all transactions by
U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the
United States that involve any property
or interests in property of designated or
otherwise blocked persons. The
prohibitions include the making of any
contribution or provision of funds,
goods, or services by, to, or for the
benefit of any blocked person or the
receipt of any contribution or provision
of funds, goods or services from any
such person.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in
consultation with the Secretary of State
and the Attorney General, imposed
financial sanctions on the following
persons pursuant to E.O. 13818:
1. Taban Deng Gai: Deng Gai was
designated on January 8, 2020, for his
link to serious human rights abuse,
including disappearances and killings.
As First Vice President of South Sudan,
Deng reportedly arranged and directed
the disappearance and deaths of human
rights lawyer Samuel Dong Luak and
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement—
In Opposition (SPLM–IO) member
Aggrey Idry. Deng directed these actions
in order to solidify his position within
President Kiir’s government and to
intimidate members of the SPLM–IO.
2. Xinjiang Public Security Bureau
(XPSB): The XPSB was designated on
July 9, 2020 for its involvement in
serious human rights abuse, which
reportedly includes mass arbitrary
detention and severe physical abuse,
among other serious abuses targeting
Uyghurs, a Turkic Muslim population
indigenous to Xinjiang, and members of
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other religious and ethnic minority
groups in the region. The XPSB, through
the Integrated Joint Operations Platform
(IJOP), uses digital surveillance systems
to track Uyghurs’ movements and
activities, to include surveilling who
they interact with and what they read.
In turn, IJOP uses this data to determine
which persons could be potential
threats; according to reports, some of
these individuals are subsequently
detained and sent to detention camps,
being held indefinitely without charges
or trial.
3. Chen Quanguo: Chen was
designated on July 9, 2020 for his
connection to serious human rights
abuse against members of religious and
ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang.
Chen is the Party Secretary of the
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, a
position he was appointed to in 2016,
following Chen’s notorious history of
intensifying security operations in the
Tibetan Autonomous Region to tighten
control over the Tibetan ethnic
minorities.
4. Huo Liujun: Huo was designated on
July 9, 2020 for his connection to serious
human rights abuse against members of
religious and ethnic minority groups in
Xinjiang. Huo was the former Party
Secretary of the XPSB from at least
March 2017 to 2018.
5. Wang Mingshan: Wang was
designated on July 9, 2020 for his
connection to serious human rights
abuse against members of religious and
ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang.
Wang has been the leader of the XPSB
since at least May 2018.
6. Zhu Hailun: Zhu was designated on
July 9, 2020 for his connection to serious
human rights abuse against members of
religious and ethnic minority groups in
Xinjiang. Zhu, former Deputy Party
Secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur
Autonomous Region (XUAR), held
several positions in the Chinese
Communist Party, prior to holding the
position of Party Secretary of the
Xinjiang Political and Legal Committee
(XPLC) from 2016 to 2019. In this role,
Zhu was responsible for maintaining
internal security and law enforcement in
the XUAR; while Zhu left this role in
2019, he still currently serves as the
Deputy Secretary of Xinjiang’s People’s
Congress, a regional legislative body.
7. Xinjiang Production and
Construction Corps (XPCC): The XPCC
was designated on July 31, 2020 for its
connection to serious human rights
abuse against members of religious and
ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang. The
XPCC is a paramilitary organization in
the XUAR that is subordinate to the
Chinese Communist Party. The XPCC
enhances internal control over the
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region by advancing China’s vision of
economic development in the XUAR
that emphasizes subordination to
central planning and resource
extraction. Chen Quanguo is the First
Political Commissar of the XPCC, a role
in which he has exercised control over
the entity.
8. Sun Jinlong: Sun was designated on
July 31, 2020 in connection with serious
human rights abuse against members of
religious and ethnic minority groups in
Xinjiang. Sun is the former Party
Secretary of the XPCC.
9. Peng Jiarui: Peng was designated on
July 31, 2020 in connection with serious
human rights abuse against members of
religious and ethnic minority groups in
Xinjiang. Peng is the Deputy Party
Secretary and Commander of the XPCC.
10. Moses Mukiibi: Mukiibi was
designated on August 17, 2020 for his
involvement in corruption in Uganda.
Mukiibi, a Ugandan judge, participated
in a scheme whereby, in certain
instances, young children were removed
from Ugandan families under promises
for ‘‘special education’’ programs and
study in the United States, and were
subsequently offered to U.S. families for
adoption. Members of this scheme
facilitated multiple bribes to Ugandan
judge Mukiibi, and other Ugandan
government officials, either directly or
through an interlocutor.
11. Wilson Musalu Musene: Musene
was designated on August 17, 2020 for
his involvement in corruption in
Uganda. Musene, a Ugandan judge,
participated in a scheme whereby, in
certain instances, young children were
removed from Ugandan families under
promises for ‘‘special education’’
programs and study in the United
States, and were subsequently offered to
U.S. families for adoption. Members of
this scheme negotiated with Musene a
flat fee for processing adoption cases. In
at least one case, a member of the
scheme met directly with Musene to
arrange an additional amount of money
required for Musene to expedite the date
of a pending adoption case on Musene’s
court calendar.
12. Dorah Mirembe: Mirembe was
designated on August 17, 2020 for her
role in providing support to corruption.
Mirembe, a Ugandan lawyer,
participated in a scheme whereby, in
certain instances, young children were
removed from Ugandan families under
promises for ‘‘special education’’
programs and study in the United
States, and were subsequently offered to
U.S. families for adoption. The adoption
agency organizing the scheme used
Mirembe’s law firm to handle the legal
aspects of the adoptions, in some cases
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through the manipulation or
falsification of court documents.
13. Patrick Ecobu: Ecobu was
designated on August 17, 2020 for his
role in providing support to corruption.
Ecobu, the husband of Mirembe,
participated in a scheme whereby, in
certain instances, young children were
removed from Ugandan families under
promises for ‘‘special education’’
programs and study in the United
States, and were subsequently offered to
U.S. families for adoption. In order to
arrange the adoption of the children,
Ecobu assisted Mirembe in facilitating
multiple bribes to Ugandan judges
Mukiibi, Musene, and other Ugandan
government officials, either directly or
through an interlocutor.
14. Union Development Group (UDG):
UDG was designated on September 15,
2020 for its involvement in corruption in
Cambodia. UDG is a PRC state-owned
entity acting for or on behalf of a PRC
official that, on May 9, 2008, was
granted a 99-year lease with the
Cambodian government for 36,000
hectares (approximately 90,000 acres) of
land in the Koh Kong province of
Cambodia. Following the approved
lease, UDG began to develop the $3.8
billion Dara Sakor project, ostensibly to
be used as a tourism development.
UDG, through Kun Kim, a senior
Cambodian general previously
designated under E.O. 13818, used
Cambodian military forces to intimidate
local villagers and to clear out land
necessary for UDG to build the Dara
Sakor project. Kim was instrumental in
the UDG development and reaped
significant financial benefit from his
relationships with UDG.
15. Nabah Ltd: Nabah was designated
on September 15, 2020 for its role in
providing support to Ashraf Seed
Ahmed Al-Cardinal, who was previously
designated on October 11, 2019, for his
involvement in bribery, kickbacks and
procurement fraud with senior
government officials. Nabah is owned or
controlled by Al-Cardinal. Al-Cardinal
himself was part of a sanctions evasion
scheme in which a senior South
Sudanese official used a bank account
in the name of one of Al-Cardinal’s
companies to store his personal funds in
an attempt to avoid the effects of U.S.
sanctions.
16. Zineb Souma Yahya Jammeh:
Zineb was designated on September 15,
2020 for her role in providing support to
Yahya Jammeh, the former President of
The Gambia who was sanctioned on
December 21, 2017 for his long history
of engaging in human rights abuses and
corruption. Zineb is the former First
Lady of The Gambia and the current
wife of Jammeh. Zineb has reportedly
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been instrumental in aiding and
abetting Jammeh’s economic crimes
against The Gambia. She is also
believed to be in charge of most of
Jammeh’s assets around the world, and
utilized a charitable foundation as cover
to facilitate the illicit transfer of funds
to her husband.
17. Gibran Bassil: Bassil was
designated on November 6, 2020 for his
involvement in corruption in Lebanon.
Bassil has held several high-level posts
in the Lebanese government, including
serving as the Minister of
Telecommunications, the Minister of
Energy and Water, and the Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, and
Bassil has been marked by significant
allegations of corruption. In 2017, Bassil
strengthened his political base by
appointing friends to positions and
purchasing other forms of influence
within Lebanese political circles. In
2014, while Minister of Energy, Bassil
was involved in approving several
projects that would have steered
Lebanese government funds to
individuals close to him through a
group of front companies.
18. Mohamed al-Kani: Al-Kani was
designated on November 25, 2020 for
being the leader of the Kaniyat Militia
in Libya, which over several years
gained control over the city of
Tarhouna, Libya, while detaining,
torturing, and murdering civilians. In
April 2019, the Kaniyat militia changed
allegiances from Libya’s recognized
Government of National Accord (GNA),
to the self-styled Libyan National Army
(LNA), providing the LNA a foothold
near Tripoli during its offensive against
the Libyan capital. In June 2020,
following a de facto truce, GNA-aligned
forces re-entered Tarhouna and
discovered at least 11 mass graves
containing the bodies of civilians
previously detained by the Kaniyat
militia, including women, children, and
elderly. Some of the deceased appeared
to have been tortured, burned, or buried
alive. The Kaniyat militia is also
responsible for hundreds of summary
executions at Tarhouna prison,
numerous forced disappearances, and
the displacement of entire families from
Tarhouna. OFAC also designated the
Kaniyat Militia for being responsible for
or complicit in, or for having directly or
indirectly engaged in, serious human
rights abuse.
19. Harry Varney Gboto-Nambi
Sherman: Sherman was designated on
December 9, 2020 for his involvement in
corruption in Liberia. A prominent
lawyer, Liberian senator, and Chair of
the Liberian Senate Judiciary
Committee, Sherman was indicted in
2016 by the Liberian government, along
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with several other government officials,
for his involvement in a bribery scheme.
Sherman offered bribes to multiple
judges associated with his trial, has
routinely paid judges to decide cases in
his favor, and has allegedly facilitated
payments to Liberian politicians to
support impeachment of a judge who
has ruled against him. Sherman’s acts
of bribery demonstrate a larger pattern
of behavior to exercise influence over
the Liberian judiciary and the Ministry
of Justice.
20. Raimbek Matraimov: Matraimov
was designated on December 9, 2020 for
his involvement in corruption in the
Kyrgyz Republic. A former deputy of the
Kyrgyz Customs Service, Matraimov was
involved in a customs scheme in which
at least USD 700 million was laundered
from the Kyrgyz Republic. The scheme
involved a company and their evasion
of customs fees. Matraimov used his
position to ensure that the company’s
goods would be able to seamlessly pass
through the borders of the Kyrgyz
Republic and was in charge of collecting
and distributing bribes that came from
this company, among other things.
Matraimov, utilizing his former position
as deputy of the Kyrgyz Customs
Service, made hundreds of millions of
dollars as a result of his involvement in
the customs scheme.
21. Wan Kuok Koi: Koi was designated
on December 9, 2020 for his
involvement in corruption in Southeast
Asia. Koi is a member of the Communist
Party of China’s (CCP) Chinese People’s
Political Consultative Conference, and is
a leader of the 14K Triad, one of the
largest Chinese organized criminal
organizations in the world that engages
in drug trafficking, illegal gambling,
racketeering, human trafficking, and a
range of other criminal activities. In
addition to bribery, corruption and
graft, the 14K Triad has engaged in
similar illicit activities in Palau. OFAC
also designated three entities that are
owned or controlled by Koi.
22. Jimmy Cherizier: Cherizier was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Haiti. While serving as an
officer in the Haitian National Police
(HNP), Cherizier planned and
participated in the November 2018
deadly attack against civilians in a Portau-Prince neighborhood known as La
Saline. During this attack, at least 71
people were killed, over 400 houses
were destroyed, and at least seven
women were raped by armed gangs.
Throughout 2018 and 2019, Cherizier
led armed groups in coordinated, brutal
attacks in Port-au-Prince
neighborhoods. Most recently, in May
2020, Cherizier led armed gangs in a
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five-day attack in multiple Port-auPrince neighborhoods in which civilians
were killed and houses were set on fire.
Cherizier is now one of Haiti’s most
influential gang leaders and leads an
alliance of nine Haitian gangs known as
the ‘‘G9 alliance.’’
23. Fednel Monchery: Monchery was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Haiti. Monchery was the
Director General of the Ministry of the
Interior and Local Authorities and,
while serving in this role, participated in
the planning of La Saline. Monchery
supplied weapons and state vehicles to
members of armed gangs who
perpetrated the attack. Monchery also
attended a meeting during which La
Saline was planned and where weapons
were distributed to the perpetrators of
the attack.
24. Joseph Pierre Richard Duplan:
Duplan was designated on December 10,
2020 for his involvement in serious
human rights abuse in Haiti. Duplan,
who was Haitian President Jovenal
Moı¨se’s Departmental Delegate at the
time of La Saline, is accused of being
the ‘‘intellectual architect’’ and was
seen discussing the attack with armed
gang members in the La Saline
neighborhood during the violence.
Duplan provided firearms and HNP
uniforms to armed gang members who
participated in the killings.
25. Sultan Zabin: Zabin was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Yemen. As the current Director
of the Sana’a-based Criminal
Investigation Department (CID), Zabin
and his CID officers have arrested,
detained, and tortured women under the
pretense of a policy designed to curb
prostitution and organized crime. In
reality, this policy was used to target
politically active women who opposed
the Houthis, and resulted in numerous
reported cases of illegal arrest, arbitrary
detention, enforced disappearance,
sexual violence, rape, torture, and other
cruel treatment utilized by the Sana’a
CID against these women.
26. Abdul-Hakim Al-Khaiwani:
Khaiwani was designated on December
10, 2020 for his involvement in serious
human rights abuse in Yemen. As a
Houthi member and Deputy Minister of
the Interior, Khaiwani was responsible
for many detention facilities and
security forces, including the Sana’a
CID. The illegal arrest, detention, and
torture of women conducted by the CID
was done so under the ultimate
authority of the Ministry of Interior.
Khaiwani currently serves as the
Director of the Security and Intelligence
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177
Service, Yemen’s new security and
intelligence agency.
27. Abdul Rahab Jarfan: Jarfan was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Yemen. Jarfan is a Houthi
member and the former Head of
Yemen’s National Security Bureau
(NSB). Under Jarfan, the NSB
systematically engaged in torture and
abusive detention of Yemeni citizens.
28. Motlaq Amer al-Marrani: AlMarrani was designated on December
10, 2020 for his involvement in serious
human rights abuse in Yemen. During
his tenure as a leader or official of the
NSB, Marrani oversaw detainees of the
NSB, who were reportedly subjected to
torture and other mistreatment by
members of the NSB while detained. In
addition, Marrani played a significant
role in the arrest, detention, and ill
treatment of humanitarian workers and
other authorities working on
humanitarian assistance and was also
found to have abused his authority and
influence over humanitarian access as
leverage to generate personal profit.
29. Qader al-Shami: Shami was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Yemen. Shami is the former
director of Yemen’s Political Security
Organization (PSO). Since late 2014, the
PSO has been responsible for the regular
practice of illegal detention and torture
of prisoners, including children. PSO
officials were found to have been
keeping detainees in undisclosed
locations, subjecting them to torture,
and not allowing them to communicate
with their families, depriving them of
their fundamental liberties. Al-Shami
currently serves as the Deputy Director
of the Security and Intelligence Bureau,
a role he has occupied since the
organization’s inception in September
2019.
30. Ramzan Kadyrov: Kadyrov was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Russia. Kadyrov is the Head of
the Chechen Republic and the leader of
an organization, the Kadyrovtsy, that
has engaged in, or whose members have
engaged in, serious human rights
abuses. Kadyrov and the forces he
commands, commonly known as the
Kadyrovtsy, are implicated in the
murder of Boris Nemtsov, an opposition
politician to Russian President Vladimir
Putin, and other serious violations of
human rights. In addition to Kadyrov,
OFAC is designating six companies
registered in Russia that continue to
provide Kadyrov pride and significant
profit.
31. Vakhit Usmayev: Usmayev was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2021 / Notices
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Russia. Usmayev, the Deputy
Prime Minister of Chechnya, has acted
or purported to act for or on behalf of,
directly or indirectly, Kadyrov.
32. Timur Dugazaev: Dugazaev was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Russia. A representative of
Kadyrov in Europe, Dugazaev has acted
or purported to act for or on behalf of,
directly or indirectly, Kadyrov.
33. Ziyad Sabsabi: Sabsabi was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Russia. A representative of
Kadyrov, Sabsabi has acted or
purported to act for or on behalf of,
directly or indirectly, Kadyrov.
34. Daniil Vasilievich Martynov:
Martynov was designated on December
10, 2020 for his involvement in serious
human rights abuse in Russia. A
personal security advisor for Kadyrov,
Martynov has acted or purported to act
for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly,
Kadyrov.
35. Satish Seemar: Seemar was
designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights
abuse in Russia. A horse trainer for
Kadyrov, Seemar has materially
assisted, sponsored, or provided
financial, material, or technological
support for, or goods and services to or
in support of, Kadyrov.
Visa Restrictions Imposed
Although no visa restrictions were
imposed under the Act during 2020,
persons designated pursuant to E.O.
13818 shall be subject to the visa
restrictions articulated in section 2,
unless an exception applies. Section 2
provides that the entry of persons
designated under section 1 of the order
is suspended pursuant to Presidential
Proclamation 8693. In 2020, the State
Department also applied, when
appropriate, visa restrictions on foreign
persons involved in significant
corruption or gross violation of human
rights under other authorities, reported
to Congress through other means. As
appropriate, the Department of State
will take additional action to impose
visa restrictions on those responsible for
certain human rights violations and
significant corruption pursuant to other
authorities, including Presidential
Proclamations 7750 and 8697, and
Section 7031(c) of the FY2020
Department of State, Foreign
Operations, and Related Programs, as
carried forward by the FY2021
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021. In
addition, section 212(a)(3)(E) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act
renders aliens ineligible for visas if a
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:28 Dec 31, 2020
Jkt 253001
consular officer has reason to believe
that they participated in acts of
genocide, torture or extrajudicial
killings.
Efforts To Encourage Governments of
Other Countries To Impose Sanctions
Similar to Those Authorized by the Act
In 2020, the Administration
continued its successful outreach
campaign to international partners
regarding the expansion of domestic and
multilateral anticorruption and human
rights sanctions regimes. Following
support by the Departments of State and
the Treasury over the course of 2018–
2019 to deliver expertise on the
underpinnings of the Global Magnitsky
sanctions program, the United Kingdom
established a Global Human Rights
(GHR) sanctions regime pursuant to its
Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering
Act 2018 on July 6, 2020. In February
2020, the Departments of State and the
Treasury formed a technical delegation
to brief Australian partners at the
invitation of Parliament, which initiated
an inquiry into whether Australia
should adopt a human rights-based
sanctions regime. The Administration
also welcomed the European Union’s
adoption of its global human rights
sanctions framework on December 7,
2020. Over the last year, the
Administration has worked closely with
the Canadian and British governments
in pursuing coordinated actions against
human rights abusers and corrupt
actors. Throughout this and future
outreach, the Administration has
identified champions, partners, and
potential spoilers of the objectives
established by Congress within the Act.
The Departments of State and the
Treasury have, over the last year, shared
information, coordinated messaging,
and provided technical assistance to
this end. The Administration will
continue to seek out additional allies
and partners to jointly leverage all tools
at our disposal to deny access to the
U.S. and international financial systems
to all those who engage in serious
human rights abuses and corruption.
Dated: December 23, 2020.
David Hale,
Under Secretary for Political Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2020–29015 Filed 12–31–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–AE–P
PO 00000
Frm 00130
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 11238]
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collection: TechGirls Evaluation
Notice of request for public
comment.
ACTION:
The Department of State is
seeking Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approval for the
information collection described below.
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, we are
requesting comments on this collection
from all interested individuals and
organizations. The purpose of this
notice is to allow 60 days for public
comment preceding submission of the
collection to OMB.
DATES: The Department will accept
comments from the public up to March
5, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by the following method:
• Web: Persons with access to the
internet may comment on this notice by
going to www.Regulations.gov. You can
search for the document by entering
‘‘Docket Number: DOS–2020–0046’’ in
the Search field. Then click the
‘‘Comment Now’’ button and complete
the comment form.
You must include the DS form
number (if applicable), information
collection title, and the OMB control
number in any correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct requests for additional
information regarding the collection
listed in this notice, including requests
for copies of the proposed collection
instrument and supporting documents,
may be sent to Natalie Donahue, Chief
of Evaluation, Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs, 2200 C Street NW,
Washington, DC 20037 who may be
reached at (202) 632–6193 or
ecaevaluation@state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
• Title of Information Collection:
TechGirls Evaluation.
• OMB Control Number: None.
• Type of Request: New collection.
• Originating Office: Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
• Form Number: No form.
• Respondents: TechGirls program
alumnae, their host families, their job
shadow hosts, and ECA implementing
partner program staff.
• Estimated Number of Alumnae
Survey Respondents: 214.
• Estimated Number of Alumnae
Survey Responses: 160.
• Average Time per Alumnae Survey:
46 minutes.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM
04JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 174-178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-29015]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 11279]
Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act Annual Report
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice contains the text of the report required by the
Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, as submitted by the
Secretary of State.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Viglietta, Email:
[email protected], Phone: (202) 647-8836.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 10, 2020, the Secretary of State
approved the following report pursuant to the Global Magnitsky
[[Page 175]]
Human Rights Accountability Act (Pub. L. 114-328, Title XII, Subtitle
F) (``the Act''), which is implemented and built upon by Executive
Order 13818 of December 20, 2017, ``Executive Order Blocking the
Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or
Corruption'' (E.O. 13818). The text of the report follows:
Pursuant to Section 1264 of the Act, and in accordance with E.O.
13818, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of
the Treasury, submits this report to detail the Administration's
implementation of the Act in 2020.
In 2020, the United States took significant action under the Global
Magnitsky sanctions program (``Global Magnitsky''). As of December 10,
2020, the United States has designated 243 foreign persons (individuals
and entities) pursuant to E.O. 13818. This sanctions program, which
targets serious human rights abusers, corrupt actors, and their
enablers, represents the best of the United States' values by taking
impactful steps to protect and promote human rights and combat
corruption around the world. Through the Act and E.O. 13818, the United
States has sought to disrupt and deter serious human rights abuse and
corruption abroad; promote accountability for those who act with
impunity; and protect, promote, and enforce longstanding international
norms alongside our partners and allies.
As the President outlined in his National Security Strategy (NSS),
liberty, free enterprise, equal justice under the law, and the dignity
of every human life are values that represent who we are as a people.
Further, the NSS states we support with our words and actions those who
live under oppressive regimes and seek freedom, individual dignity, and
the rule of law. The NSS outlines a commitment to combat global
corruption that facilitates transnational crime and terrorism and
undermines economic growth. Through Global Magnitsky, the
Administration is taking action to execute the President's vision as
described in the NSS.
Actions taken in 2020 continue to demonstrate the reach,
flexibility, and broad scope of the Global Magnitsky authorities. The
United States responded to serious human rights abuses and corruption
globally, addressing some of the most egregious behavior this tool can
attempt to disrupt and deter. These actions targeted, among other
things, serious human rights abusers affecting millions of members of
Muslim minority groups in northwest China's Xinjiang province; corrupt
actors in South Sudan involved in draining the country of critical
resources; and Ugandan officials engaged in an adoption scam that
victimized Ugandan-born children. These designations clearly
demonstrate the resolve of the Administration to leverage this
important tool, when appropriate, to target individuals and entities
engaging in specified conduct.
When considering economic sanctions under Global Magnitsky, the
United States prioritizes actions that are expected to produce a
tangible and significant impact on the sanctioned persons and their
affiliates and prompt changes in behavior or disrupt the activities of
malign actors. Persons sanctioned pursuant to this authority appear on
the Office of Foreign Assets Control's (OFAC) List of Specially
Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). As a result of
these actions, all property and interests in property of the sanctioned
persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control
of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Unless
authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or otherwise
exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S.
persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any
property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked
persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or
provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of
any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of
funds, goods or services from any such person.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary
of State and the Attorney General, imposed financial sanctions on the
following persons pursuant to E.O. 13818:
1. Taban Deng Gai: Deng Gai was designated on January 8, 2020, for
his link to serious human rights abuse, including disappearances and
killings. As First Vice President of South Sudan, Deng reportedly
arranged and directed the disappearance and deaths of human rights
lawyer Samuel Dong Luak and Sudan People's Liberation Movement--In
Opposition (SPLM-IO) member Aggrey Idry. Deng directed these actions in
order to solidify his position within President Kiir's government and
to intimidate members of the SPLM-IO.
2. Xinjiang Public Security Bureau (XPSB): The XPSB was designated
on July 9, 2020 for its involvement in serious human rights abuse,
which reportedly includes mass arbitrary detention and severe physical
abuse, among other serious abuses targeting Uyghurs, a Turkic Muslim
population indigenous to Xinjiang, and members of other religious and
ethnic minority groups in the region. The XPSB, through the Integrated
Joint Operations Platform (IJOP), uses digital surveillance systems to
track Uyghurs' movements and activities, to include surveilling who
they interact with and what they read. In turn, IJOP uses this data to
determine which persons could be potential threats; according to
reports, some of these individuals are subsequently detained and sent
to detention camps, being held indefinitely without charges or trial.
3. Chen Quanguo: Chen was designated on July 9, 2020 for his
connection to serious human rights abuse against members of religious
and ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang. Chen is the Party Secretary of
the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, a position he was appointed to
in 2016, following Chen's notorious history of intensifying security
operations in the Tibetan Autonomous Region to tighten control over the
Tibetan ethnic minorities.
4. Huo Liujun: Huo was designated on July 9, 2020 for his
connection to serious human rights abuse against members of religious
and ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang. Huo was the former Party
Secretary of the XPSB from at least March 2017 to 2018.
5. Wang Mingshan: Wang was designated on July 9, 2020 for his
connection to serious human rights abuse against members of religious
and ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang. Wang has been the leader of the
XPSB since at least May 2018.
6. Zhu Hailun: Zhu was designated on July 9, 2020 for his
connection to serious human rights abuse against members of religious
and ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang. Zhu, former Deputy Party
Secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), held several
positions in the Chinese Communist Party, prior to holding the position
of Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Political and Legal Committee (XPLC)
from 2016 to 2019. In this role, Zhu was responsible for maintaining
internal security and law enforcement in the XUAR; while Zhu left this
role in 2019, he still currently serves as the Deputy Secretary of
Xinjiang's People's Congress, a regional legislative body.
7. Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC): The XPCC was
designated on July 31, 2020 for its connection to serious human rights
abuse against members of religious and ethnic minority groups in
Xinjiang. The XPCC is a paramilitary organization in the XUAR that is
subordinate to the Chinese Communist Party. The XPCC enhances internal
control over the
[[Page 176]]
region by advancing China's vision of economic development in the XUAR
that emphasizes subordination to central planning and resource
extraction. Chen Quanguo is the First Political Commissar of the XPCC,
a role in which he has exercised control over the entity.
8. Sun Jinlong: Sun was designated on July 31, 2020 in connection
with serious human rights abuse against members of religious and ethnic
minority groups in Xinjiang. Sun is the former Party Secretary of the
XPCC.
9. Peng Jiarui: Peng was designated on July 31, 2020 in connection
with serious human rights abuse against members of religious and ethnic
minority groups in Xinjiang. Peng is the Deputy Party Secretary and
Commander of the XPCC.
10. Moses Mukiibi: Mukiibi was designated on August 17, 2020 for
his involvement in corruption in Uganda. Mukiibi, a Ugandan judge,
participated in a scheme whereby, in certain instances, young children
were removed from Ugandan families under promises for ``special
education'' programs and study in the United States, and were
subsequently offered to U.S. families for adoption. Members of this
scheme facilitated multiple bribes to Ugandan judge Mukiibi, and other
Ugandan government officials, either directly or through an
interlocutor.
11. Wilson Musalu Musene: Musene was designated on August 17, 2020
for his involvement in corruption in Uganda. Musene, a Ugandan judge,
participated in a scheme whereby, in certain instances, young children
were removed from Ugandan families under promises for ``special
education'' programs and study in the United States, and were
subsequently offered to U.S. families for adoption. Members of this
scheme negotiated with Musene a flat fee for processing adoption cases.
In at least one case, a member of the scheme met directly with Musene
to arrange an additional amount of money required for Musene to
expedite the date of a pending adoption case on Musene's court
calendar.
12. Dorah Mirembe: Mirembe was designated on August 17, 2020 for
her role in providing support to corruption. Mirembe, a Ugandan lawyer,
participated in a scheme whereby, in certain instances, young children
were removed from Ugandan families under promises for ``special
education'' programs and study in the United States, and were
subsequently offered to U.S. families for adoption. The adoption agency
organizing the scheme used Mirembe's law firm to handle the legal
aspects of the adoptions, in some cases through the manipulation or
falsification of court documents.
13. Patrick Ecobu: Ecobu was designated on August 17, 2020 for his
role in providing support to corruption. Ecobu, the husband of Mirembe,
participated in a scheme whereby, in certain instances, young children
were removed from Ugandan families under promises for ``special
education'' programs and study in the United States, and were
subsequently offered to U.S. families for adoption. In order to arrange
the adoption of the children, Ecobu assisted Mirembe in facilitating
multiple bribes to Ugandan judges Mukiibi, Musene, and other Ugandan
government officials, either directly or through an interlocutor.
14. Union Development Group (UDG): UDG was designated on September
15, 2020 for its involvement in corruption in Cambodia. UDG is a PRC
state-owned entity acting for or on behalf of a PRC official that, on
May 9, 2008, was granted a 99-year lease with the Cambodian government
for 36,000 hectares (approximately 90,000 acres) of land in the Koh
Kong province of Cambodia. Following the approved lease, UDG began to
develop the $3.8 billion Dara Sakor project, ostensibly to be used as a
tourism development. UDG, through Kun Kim, a senior Cambodian general
previously designated under E.O. 13818, used Cambodian military forces
to intimidate local villagers and to clear out land necessary for UDG
to build the Dara Sakor project. Kim was instrumental in the UDG
development and reaped significant financial benefit from his
relationships with UDG.
15. Nabah Ltd: Nabah was designated on September 15, 2020 for its
role in providing support to Ashraf Seed Ahmed Al-Cardinal, who was
previously designated on October 11, 2019, for his involvement in
bribery, kickbacks and procurement fraud with senior government
officials. Nabah is owned or controlled by Al-Cardinal. Al-Cardinal
himself was part of a sanctions evasion scheme in which a senior South
Sudanese official used a bank account in the name of one of Al-
Cardinal's companies to store his personal funds in an attempt to avoid
the effects of U.S. sanctions.
16. Zineb Souma Yahya Jammeh: Zineb was designated on September 15,
2020 for her role in providing support to Yahya Jammeh, the former
President of The Gambia who was sanctioned on December 21, 2017 for his
long history of engaging in human rights abuses and corruption. Zineb
is the former First Lady of The Gambia and the current wife of Jammeh.
Zineb has reportedly been instrumental in aiding and abetting Jammeh's
economic crimes against The Gambia. She is also believed to be in
charge of most of Jammeh's assets around the world, and utilized a
charitable foundation as cover to facilitate the illicit transfer of
funds to her husband.
17. Gibran Bassil: Bassil was designated on November 6, 2020 for
his involvement in corruption in Lebanon. Bassil has held several high-
level posts in the Lebanese government, including serving as the
Minister of Telecommunications, the Minister of Energy and Water, and
the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, and Bassil has been
marked by significant allegations of corruption. In 2017, Bassil
strengthened his political base by appointing friends to positions and
purchasing other forms of influence within Lebanese political circles.
In 2014, while Minister of Energy, Bassil was involved in approving
several projects that would have steered Lebanese government funds to
individuals close to him through a group of front companies.
18. Mohamed al-Kani: Al-Kani was designated on November 25, 2020
for being the leader of the Kaniyat Militia in Libya, which over
several years gained control over the city of Tarhouna, Libya, while
detaining, torturing, and murdering civilians. In April 2019, the
Kaniyat militia changed allegiances from Libya's recognized Government
of National Accord (GNA), to the self-styled Libyan National Army
(LNA), providing the LNA a foothold near Tripoli during its offensive
against the Libyan capital. In June 2020, following a de facto truce,
GNA-aligned forces re-entered Tarhouna and discovered at least 11 mass
graves containing the bodies of civilians previously detained by the
Kaniyat militia, including women, children, and elderly. Some of the
deceased appeared to have been tortured, burned, or buried alive. The
Kaniyat militia is also responsible for hundreds of summary executions
at Tarhouna prison, numerous forced disappearances, and the
displacement of entire families from Tarhouna. OFAC also designated the
Kaniyat Militia for being responsible for or complicit in, or for
having directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse.
19. Harry Varney Gboto-Nambi Sherman: Sherman was designated on
December 9, 2020 for his involvement in corruption in Liberia. A
prominent lawyer, Liberian senator, and Chair of the Liberian Senate
Judiciary Committee, Sherman was indicted in 2016 by the Liberian
government, along
[[Page 177]]
with several other government officials, for his involvement in a
bribery scheme. Sherman offered bribes to multiple judges associated
with his trial, has routinely paid judges to decide cases in his favor,
and has allegedly facilitated payments to Liberian politicians to
support impeachment of a judge who has ruled against him. Sherman's
acts of bribery demonstrate a larger pattern of behavior to exercise
influence over the Liberian judiciary and the Ministry of Justice.
20. Raimbek Matraimov: Matraimov was designated on December 9, 2020
for his involvement in corruption in the Kyrgyz Republic. A former
deputy of the Kyrgyz Customs Service, Matraimov was involved in a
customs scheme in which at least USD 700 million was laundered from the
Kyrgyz Republic. The scheme involved a company and their evasion of
customs fees. Matraimov used his position to ensure that the company's
goods would be able to seamlessly pass through the borders of the
Kyrgyz Republic and was in charge of collecting and distributing bribes
that came from this company, among other things. Matraimov, utilizing
his former position as deputy of the Kyrgyz Customs Service, made
hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of his involvement in the
customs scheme.
21. Wan Kuok Koi: Koi was designated on December 9, 2020 for his
involvement in corruption in Southeast Asia. Koi is a member of the
Communist Party of China's (CCP) Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference, and is a leader of the 14K Triad, one of the
largest Chinese organized criminal organizations in the world that
engages in drug trafficking, illegal gambling, racketeering, human
trafficking, and a range of other criminal activities. In addition to
bribery, corruption and graft, the 14K Triad has engaged in similar
illicit activities in Palau. OFAC also designated three entities that
are owned or controlled by Koi.
22. Jimmy Cherizier: Cherizier was designated on December 10, 2020
for his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Haiti. While
serving as an officer in the Haitian National Police (HNP), Cherizier
planned and participated in the November 2018 deadly attack against
civilians in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood known as La Saline. During
this attack, at least 71 people were killed, over 400 houses were
destroyed, and at least seven women were raped by armed gangs.
Throughout 2018 and 2019, Cherizier led armed groups in coordinated,
brutal attacks in Port-au-Prince neighborhoods. Most recently, in May
2020, Cherizier led armed gangs in a five-day attack in multiple Port-
au-Prince neighborhoods in which civilians were killed and houses were
set on fire. Cherizier is now one of Haiti's most influential gang
leaders and leads an alliance of nine Haitian gangs known as the ``G9
alliance.''
23. Fednel Monchery: Monchery was designated on December 10, 2020
for his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Haiti. Monchery
was the Director General of the Ministry of the Interior and Local
Authorities and, while serving in this role, participated in the
planning of La Saline. Monchery supplied weapons and state vehicles to
members of armed gangs who perpetrated the attack. Monchery also
attended a meeting during which La Saline was planned and where weapons
were distributed to the perpetrators of the attack.
24. Joseph Pierre Richard Duplan: Duplan was designated on December
10, 2020 for his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Haiti.
Duplan, who was Haitian President Jovenal Mo[iuml]se's Departmental
Delegate at the time of La Saline, is accused of being the
``intellectual architect'' and was seen discussing the attack with
armed gang members in the La Saline neighborhood during the violence.
Duplan provided firearms and HNP uniforms to armed gang members who
participated in the killings.
25. Sultan Zabin: Zabin was designated on December 10, 2020 for his
involvement in serious human rights abuse in Yemen. As the current
Director of the Sana'a-based Criminal Investigation Department (CID),
Zabin and his CID officers have arrested, detained, and tortured women
under the pretense of a policy designed to curb prostitution and
organized crime. In reality, this policy was used to target politically
active women who opposed the Houthis, and resulted in numerous reported
cases of illegal arrest, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance,
sexual violence, rape, torture, and other cruel treatment utilized by
the Sana'a CID against these women.
26. Abdul-Hakim Al-Khaiwani: Khaiwani was designated on December
10, 2020 for his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Yemen. As
a Houthi member and Deputy Minister of the Interior, Khaiwani was
responsible for many detention facilities and security forces,
including the Sana'a CID. The illegal arrest, detention, and torture of
women conducted by the CID was done so under the ultimate authority of
the Ministry of Interior. Khaiwani currently serves as the Director of
the Security and Intelligence Service, Yemen's new security and
intelligence agency.
27. Abdul Rahab Jarfan: Jarfan was designated on December 10, 2020
for his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Yemen. Jarfan is a
Houthi member and the former Head of Yemen's National Security Bureau
(NSB). Under Jarfan, the NSB systematically engaged in torture and
abusive detention of Yemeni citizens.
28. Motlaq Amer al-Marrani: Al-Marrani was designated on December
10, 2020 for his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Yemen.
During his tenure as a leader or official of the NSB, Marrani oversaw
detainees of the NSB, who were reportedly subjected to torture and
other mistreatment by members of the NSB while detained. In addition,
Marrani played a significant role in the arrest, detention, and ill
treatment of humanitarian workers and other authorities working on
humanitarian assistance and was also found to have abused his authority
and influence over humanitarian access as leverage to generate personal
profit.
29. Qader al-Shami: Shami was designated on December 10, 2020 for
his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Yemen. Shami is the
former director of Yemen's Political Security Organization (PSO). Since
late 2014, the PSO has been responsible for the regular practice of
illegal detention and torture of prisoners, including children. PSO
officials were found to have been keeping detainees in undisclosed
locations, subjecting them to torture, and not allowing them to
communicate with their families, depriving them of their fundamental
liberties. Al-Shami currently serves as the Deputy Director of the
Security and Intelligence Bureau, a role he has occupied since the
organization's inception in September 2019.
30. Ramzan Kadyrov: Kadyrov was designated on December 10, 2020 for
his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Russia. Kadyrov is the
Head of the Chechen Republic and the leader of an organization, the
Kadyrovtsy, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in,
serious human rights abuses. Kadyrov and the forces he commands,
commonly known as the Kadyrovtsy, are implicated in the murder of Boris
Nemtsov, an opposition politician to Russian President Vladimir Putin,
and other serious violations of human rights. In addition to Kadyrov,
OFAC is designating six companies registered in Russia that continue to
provide Kadyrov pride and significant profit.
31. Vakhit Usmayev: Usmayev was designated on December 10, 2020 for
his
[[Page 178]]
involvement in serious human rights abuse in Russia. Usmayev, the
Deputy Prime Minister of Chechnya, has acted or purported to act for or
on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kadyrov.
32. Timur Dugazaev: Dugazaev was designated on December 10, 2020
for his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Russia. A
representative of Kadyrov in Europe, Dugazaev has acted or purported to
act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kadyrov.
33. Ziyad Sabsabi: Sabsabi was designated on December 10, 2020 for
his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Russia. A
representative of Kadyrov, Sabsabi has acted or purported to act for or
on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kadyrov.
34. Daniil Vasilievich Martynov: Martynov was designated on
December 10, 2020 for his involvement in serious human rights abuse in
Russia. A personal security advisor for Kadyrov, Martynov has acted or
purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kadyrov.
35. Satish Seemar: Seemar was designated on December 10, 2020 for
his involvement in serious human rights abuse in Russia. A horse
trainer for Kadyrov, Seemar has materially assisted, sponsored, or
provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods
and services to or in support of, Kadyrov.
Visa Restrictions Imposed
Although no visa restrictions were imposed under the Act during
2020, persons designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 shall be subject to the
visa restrictions articulated in section 2, unless an exception
applies. Section 2 provides that the entry of persons designated under
section 1 of the order is suspended pursuant to Presidential
Proclamation 8693. In 2020, the State Department also applied, when
appropriate, visa restrictions on foreign persons involved in
significant corruption or gross violation of human rights under other
authorities, reported to Congress through other means. As appropriate,
the Department of State will take additional action to impose visa
restrictions on those responsible for certain human rights violations
and significant corruption pursuant to other authorities, including
Presidential Proclamations 7750 and 8697, and Section 7031(c) of the
FY2020 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs,
as carried forward by the FY2021 Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021.
In addition, section 212(a)(3)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act renders aliens ineligible for visas if a consular officer has
reason to believe that they participated in acts of genocide, torture
or extrajudicial killings.
Efforts To Encourage Governments of Other Countries To Impose Sanctions
Similar to Those Authorized by the Act
In 2020, the Administration continued its successful outreach
campaign to international partners regarding the expansion of domestic
and multilateral anticorruption and human rights sanctions regimes.
Following support by the Departments of State and the Treasury over the
course of 2018-2019 to deliver expertise on the underpinnings of the
Global Magnitsky sanctions program, the United Kingdom established a
Global Human Rights (GHR) sanctions regime pursuant to its Sanctions
and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 on July 6, 2020. In February 2020,
the Departments of State and the Treasury formed a technical delegation
to brief Australian partners at the invitation of Parliament, which
initiated an inquiry into whether Australia should adopt a human
rights-based sanctions regime. The Administration also welcomed the
European Union's adoption of its global human rights sanctions
framework on December 7, 2020. Over the last year, the Administration
has worked closely with the Canadian and British governments in
pursuing coordinated actions against human rights abusers and corrupt
actors. Throughout this and future outreach, the Administration has
identified champions, partners, and potential spoilers of the
objectives established by Congress within the Act. The Departments of
State and the Treasury have, over the last year, shared information,
coordinated messaging, and provided technical assistance to this end.
The Administration will continue to seek out additional allies and
partners to jointly leverage all tools at our disposal to deny access
to the U.S. and international financial systems to all those who engage
in serious human rights abuses and corruption.
Dated: December 23, 2020.
David Hale,
Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2020-29015 Filed 12-31-20; 8:45 am]
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