Latest news with #MagnitskyAct
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Bolsonaro, accused of urging US hostility, ordered to wear ankle bracelet
Last week, Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on Brazil, citing Bolsonaro's prosecution and what he said was the Brazilian Supreme Court's unlawful suppression of free speech. On Thursday evening, he posted to Truth Social a copy of a letter to Jair Bolsonaro, long among his closest allies on the global far right, lamenting his 'terrible treatment … at the hands of an unjust system' and demanding that his trial 'should end immediately.' Advertisement Friday's punitive measures against the former president, whom authorities view as a flight risk, were the clearest sign yet that Brazil has no intention of backing off his prosecution — or of seeking a quick détente in its ever-widening dispute with the White House. Instead, authorities have ratcheted up the pressure on Bolsonaro and his son. Advertisement Jair and Eduardo Bolsonaro were 'willfully and consciously acting with illicit intent … with the hope of trying to submit the functioning of the Federal Supreme Court to the scrutiny of a foreign state,' Moraes wrote in his order. Their 'clear goal,' he added, was to 'coerce the court.' In a statement, Jair Bolsonaro's defense team said it was 'surprised and indignant' over what it described as 'severe' restrictions. Eduardo Bolsonaro, in a statement posted to social media, said he wasn't surprised. 'We have for a long time been denouncing the actions of dictator Alexandre de Moraes,' he said, accusing the justice of using the Supreme Court 'as a personal weapon for political persecution.' In a speech Thursday night, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — who has vowed not to give in to Trump's threats — used his strongest language yet to condemn Jair Bolsonaro's supporters, whom he accused of siding with the American president. 'They're true traitors of the homeland,' Lula said. 'They don't care about the economy of the country or the damages caused to our people.' For weeks, Eduardo Bolsonaro has gone in and out of the White House to meet with Trump officials and encourage sanctions against Moraes, four people familiar with the situation told The Washington Post this week. Two of those familiar said they had seen a copy of a sanctions order against Moraes within the past month, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share sensitive details. Often at Eduardo Bolsonaro's side has been Paulo Figueiredo, a right-wing Brazilian influencer who has also been charged with taking part in the alleged coup plot in 2022. Advertisement The men have repeatedly urged action against Moraes, a figure reviled by the Brazilian right for his role in investigating Bolsonaro and for his expansive probes into misinformation on social media. They have pushed US authorities to invoke the Magnitsky Act, which empowers the American government to impose sanctions on foreign nationals. Asked whether it was planning sanctions against Moraes, the White House sent a transcript of remarks from Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a congressional hearing in May. 'That is under review right now, and it's a great, great possibility that will happen,' Rubio said when asked whether officials were considering sanctioning Moraes under the Magnitsky Act. Legal experts expressed surprise at the possible use of the Magnitsky Act, named for a slain Russian dissident, which has traditionally been used to sanction officials accused of 'gross' human rights violations. 'If they're trying to do it under the Global Magnitsky Act, it would not work,' said Alex Prezanti, a partner at Global Diligence, an international law firm. 'It would be illegal and could be successfully challenged.' While Eduardo Bolsonaro pressed Washington for action, Brazilian authorities allege he has received both counsel and financial support from his father. The former president has openly discussed the money he has sent his son during his time in the United States, which he has said has topped $350,000. 'The investigation has confirmed the participation of JAIR MESSIAS BOLSONARO in the criminal conduct,' Moraes wrote in his order, accusing the former president of aiding a 'negotiation with a foreign government so that it can practice hostile actions against Brazil.' Advertisement In April, during an interview with the Post, Jair Bolsonaro said he would have preferred that his son had stayed in Brazil but understood he was trying to help. 'I have a lot of gratitude toward Trump for the way he treats my son Eduardo,' Bolsonaro said inside his Liberal Party headquarters in Brasília. He also mentioned the Magnitsky Act, which he said was 'being studied right now in the United States to apply it against Alexandre de Moraes.' It remains unclear how the White House will react to the new restrictions placed on Bolsonaro. In his Thursday letter calling for the end of his trial, Trump ended with: 'I will be watching.'
Time Business News
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Sanctioned and Gone: U.S. Targets High-Level Financial Fugitives
VANCOUVER, Canada — In a post-pandemic financial landscape riddled with crypto collapses, offshore asset shelters, and geopolitical tensions, the U.S. government has intensified its efforts to track and sanction high-level financial fugitives. These individuals—ranging from corporate insiders to state-linked oligarchs—are increasingly being pursued not only through traditional law enforcement channels but through a powerful arsenal of tools that include economic sanctions, seizures, and international diplomatic pressure. This new approach reflects the global reality of financial crime in 2025: many fugitives no longer run in fear. Instead, they operate through shell companies, trusted proxies, and protected jurisdictions—all while evading extradition. But as sanctions evolve from state-level instruments to personal accountability tools, the U.S. is quietly reshaping how justice is delivered across borders. From Indictment to Sanction: A Modern Pursuit Historically, economic fugitives faced arrest warrants, FBI bulletins, and sometimes INTERPOL Red Notices. However, now, U.S. agencies, such as the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) within the Department of the Treasury, are naming and sanctioning individuals accused—not necessarily convicted—of significant financial crimes. This tactic has multiple advantages: In many cases, individuals under indictment may never enter a courtroom, but they'll find themselves unable to access banking services, travel internationally, or invest in legitimate markets. Case Study #1: Alex Saab — Sanctioned, Captured, and Extradited Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman accused of laundering hundreds of millions for the Venezuelan regime, was not merely indicted—he was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2019 under the Magnitsky Act, which targets global corruption. Saab attempted to travel under diplomatic cover in 2020, claiming immunity. Yet U.S. authorities, with the cooperation of Cape Verde, detained and eventually extradited him to the United States. His arrest marked a turning point in sanction enforcement against fugitives, as it demonstrated that sanctions and legal arrest could coexist and reinforce each other. High-Level Targets: When Financial Crime and Politics Collide In 2025, the line between financial fugitive and geopolitical figure is increasingly blurred. Many of the highest-profile fugitives are: These fugitives not only defraud—often in the hundreds of millions—but also become pawns in geopolitical games. The Power of Sanctions in 2025 Sanctions in the modern era are not just about freezing government funds; they also involve other measures. They now serve to: Label individuals globally , alerting institutions and border agencies. , alerting institutions and border agencies. Trigger investigations in other countries through reciprocity agreements. in other countries through reciprocity agreements. Isolate fugitives from legal financial systems (e.g., no SWIFT, no Mastercard, no investment banks). The U.S. Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list is being used in tandem with the DOJ's criminal indictments, creating a one-two punch of legal and financial pressure. Case Study #2: Ruja Ignatova — Still Missing, Now Sanctioned The infamous 'Crypto queen' Ruja Ignatova vanished in 2017 after her OneCoin pyramid scheme allegedly swindled investors out of $4.5 billion. Although her case initially involved criminal fraud charges, she has now been targeted by a coordinated global effort involving the FBI, Europol, and financial intelligence units. In 2023, the U.S. Treasury listed shell companies associated with Ignatova on OFAC's SDN list, freezing associated assets in Liechtenstein and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While she remains missing, her financial empire is systematically being dismantled, piece by piece. When Sanctions Become the New Border Control Sanctions do more than lock up money—they act as digital fences. When a sanctioned individual tries to: Open a bank account Purchase real estate Board an international flight with a flagged passport Use high-value services like private charter or investment brokerage —alerts are triggered, and enforcement agencies are notified. In some cases, those caught facilitating services for sanctioned individuals can be criminally prosecuted themselves. Amicus International's View on Sanctions and Identity Amicus International Consulting, a leader in global identity restructuring and financial protection, emphasizes that the modern landscape demands clarity and legal compliance, especially as digital systems integrate sanction watchlists into every layer of customer onboarding. 'Our advisory team works with clients navigating complex geopolitical and financial systems,' said a spokesperson from Amicus. 'While we do not work with fugitives or sanctioned parties, we are often called in to analyze how legal frameworks are being weaponized or misused in cross-border enforcement.' Amicus has assisted legal teams and journalists in mapping the asset trails and legal footprints of sanctioned fugitives, especially where overlapping legal jurisdictions create both opportunity and confusion. Case Study #3: Samark López — A Shadow Empire Unravelled Venezuelan businessman Samark López was sanctioned under the Kingpin Act for his ties to narcotics trafficking and corruption. Despite no conviction, López's name and businesses were blocked globally. What followed was a complete collapse of his enterprise: Bank accounts in Panama and Switzerland frozen Assets seized in Miami and Spain Real estate traced through shell structures and forfeited The case illustrates that being on a sanctions list is now more operationally devastating than a Red Notice, particularly in the context of globalized finance. Where the Fugitives Still Hide Despite growing enforcement, some jurisdictions remain safe havens for sanctioned or indicted individuals, including: Russia and parts of Central Asia China, under limited cooperation treaties Iran and proxy states Some Caribbean and West African nations In these places, fugitives may still access banking services, use local passports, and operate behind nominal corporate directors or offshore trusts. Case Study #4: The Dimitrions — Disappearance After Plea, Still Sanction-Free John Michael and Julieanne Dimitrion, a couple from Hawaii who defrauded distressed homeowners, pleaded guilty in 2010 and then vanished before sentencing. Though they remain on the FBI's wanted list, no economic sanctions have been issued against them, showcasing an ongoing gap in sanction coverage for lower-profile fugitives. They've reportedly used altered identities in Central America, eluding detection by staying under financial and digital radar thresholds. Digital Enforcement Is Here In 2025, sanctions enforcement is no longer confined to manual reviews. AI-driven systems now: Scan financial transactions for sanctioned aliases Auto-flag property registrations and corporate filings Monitor crypto transactions tied to blocked wallets Match biometric data with international no-fly lists These tools, integrated into everything from real estate platforms to luxury yacht registries, are reshaping how fugitives can move, invest, and survive. Asset Seizure Without Conviction? Yes. Under civil asset forfeiture laws, sanctioned individuals can lose assets before or without a criminal trial, especially if their property is linked to sanctioned entities. In one 2024 case, U.S. authorities seized $120 million in cryptocurrency assets from wallets tied to a sanctioned Russian mining operation, despite no court ruling on guilt. These tools are increasingly being tested in U.S. courts and supported by legal precedent when tied to national security interests. Amicus on the Future of International Financial Controls As international clients seek guidance on legal compliance, Amicus International stresses: The growing power of cross-border sanction enforcement The importance of jurisdictional clarity in identity documentation in identity documentation The need for risk mitigation structures that do not cross into sanctioned territory Their advisory offerings include forensic asset mapping, legal identity restructuring under national law, and treaty-based planning for legitimate relocation. Conclusion: The U.S. Is Changing the Game From the Cayman Islands to Cyprus, and Dubai to Singapore, financial fugitives used to hide behind law firm proxies and shell company veils. Today, the U.S. is tearing down those curtains—not with handcuffs alone, but with sanctions, seizures, and systemic disruption. For the first time, an untried fugitive can find themselves digitally erased, financially frozen, and geopolitically isolated—without a shot being fired or an arrest being made. As Amicus continues to advise on the intersection of identity, law, and sovereignty, one message becomes clear: In 2025, you don't have to be caught to be cornered. 📞 Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: info@ Website: Follow Us: 🔗 LinkedIn 🔗 Twitter/X 🔗 Facebook 🔗 Instagram TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US Announces Visa Curbs Targeting Social Media ‘Censorship'
(Bloomberg) -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions on foreign officials and other individuals who 'censor Americans,' including those who target American technology companies, as the Trump administration steps up a confrontation with other countries over their social media policies. NYC Congestion Toll Brings In $216 Million in First Four Months NY Wins Order Against US Funding Freeze in Congestion Fight Without giving specifics, Rubio cited instances of foreign governments censoring protected speech in the US, saying it was unacceptable for foreigners to 'issue or threaten arrest warrants on US citizens or US residents for social media posts on American platforms,' according to a statement on Wednesday. It is unclear from the statement what prompted the move and whether it was directed at any particular official or country. In a social media post, however, Rubio alluded to Latin America and Europe in saying 'the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over.' At the same time, an article posted on the State Department website on Tuesday singled out the European Union's Digital Services Act, alleging that it's being used to silence dissident voices. 'Independent regulators now police social media companies, including prominent American platforms like X, and threaten immense fines for non-compliance with their strict speech regulations,' according to the article, written by an official from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the EU over its regulatory crackdown on some of the biggest US tech companies and threatened to strike back with penalties. His administration is also at odds with a Brazilian Supreme Court justice, Alexandre de Moraes, who briefly banned access to Elon Musk's X and US video-sharing platform Rumble Inc. Last week, Rubio told lawmakers that the US might impose sanctions on Moraes under the Magnitsky Act, which freezes the US assets of foreign officials accused of corruption and bans them from traveling to the country. On Wednesday afternoon, Brazil's Supreme Court said in a statement that 'Moraes does not and has never had any assets, money, or property in the United States.' --With assistance from Daniel Carvalho. Mark Zuckerberg Loves MAGA Now. Will MAGA Ever Love Him Back? Millions of Americans Are Obsessed With This Japanese Barbecue Sauce YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Inside the First Stargate AI Data Center How Coach Handbags Became a Gen Z Status Symbol ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
CNN
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Sanctioned Ukrainian ex-politician shot dead outside Madrid's American school
Madrid, Spain CNN — Former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov, who worked as a senior aide to pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovych, has been shot dead outside a school near the Spanish capital Madrid, Spanish authorities told CNN. Portnov, 51, a lawyer and former lawmaker, was the deputy head of Yanukovych's administration before it was ousted in Ukraine's 2014 pro-democracy uprising. He was shot several times by multiple assailants on Wednesday as he was getting into a car around 9:15 a.m. local time (3:15 a.m. ET), a Spanish police source told CNN, adding that the assailants fled into a wooded area. The Madrid region's Summa emergency services said he had three gunshot wounds, including one to the head, and he died shortly after the first ambulance arrived on the scene. The shooting took place outside the American School of Madrid, located in Pozuelo de Alaracon, an affluent suburb just west of Madrid. The school sent out various urgent messages to parents following the incident, which took place shortly after school drop-off, noting that all students were safe and that the school believes the victim is the father of a student but was awaiting formal identification, a source close to the school told CNN. Police cordoned off the area outside the elite school, which has just over 1,000 students from the United States, Spain and several dozen other countries. Portnov was sanctioned by the United States in 2021 for corruption and bribery under the Magnitsky Act. He was 'credibly accused of using his influence to buy access and decisions in Ukraine's courts and undermining reform effort,' according to the US Treasury Department. The Magnitsky Act, signed into law in December 2012, blocks entry into the US and freezes the assets of certain Russian and pro-Russian government officials and businessmen accused of human rights violations. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the office of the President of Ukraine have not commented on Portnov's death. The Security Service of Ukraine previously investigated Portnov's possible involvement in Russia's annexation of Crimea, but the case was later closed. The former politician fled Ukraine months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to an investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, when men of draft age were not permitted to leave. Canada also froze his assets in 2014 as part of a crackdown on 'corrupt foreign officials,' in relation to his work as a former adviser to ousted ex-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Portnov was appointed deputy head of Yanukovych's administration in 2010, as well as the head of Ukraine's Main Directorate for Judicial Reform and Judicial System. At the same time, Portnov became a member of the board of the National Bank of Ukraine. Yanukovych was driven from office by mass demonstrations in Ukraine in 2014 after he turned his back on the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia. Yanukovych then fled Ukraine for Russia, along with Portnov and other high-level former officials in the wake of the 2014 pro-democracy, pro-European Maidan protests. Portnov later returned to Ukraine in 2019. Ukraine itself never imposed sanctions on Portnov. In December 2024, media and civil society organizations in the country launched a petition demanding sanctions against him, alleging continued corruption aimed at controlling the Ukrainian judiciary, and highlighting concerns that he was going after critical journalists with lawsuits and threats. Portnov once released the personal data of several members of an investigative journalism project run by RFE/RL, who were looking into his dealings with the Ukrainian government. The petition gathered 25,000 signatures, but Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers rejected it, citing insufficient grounds for sanctions. Other killings Portnov is not the only ally of former Ukrainian President Yanukovych who was killed after he was ousted from power. In 2015, CNN reported on two high-profile shooting deaths in the Ukrainian capital – one of a former member of parliament with ties to Yanukovych, the other of a Ukrainian journalist known for his pro-Russian views. At the time, those killings renewed speculation about a conspiracy to kill people close to Yanukovych, after three former members of parliament from his political party died by suspected suicide, found dead in their homes. Spain has also experienced a recent spate of attacks related to the Russia-Ukraine war, and it has significant populations of expatriates from both countries. In 2022, there was an explosion at Ukraine's embassy in Madrid, injuring one Ukrainian employee who was handling a letter addressed to Kyiv's ambassador to Spain, officials said. Other letter bombs followed, including one sent to the Spanish prime minister. A Spanish man was eventually arrested for the bombs, which a judge said were intended to disturb public peace and create pressure for Spain to suppress its support to Ukraine. Spain has provided humanitarian and military support to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. In 2024, a Russian pilot who dramatically defected to Ukraine by flying his helicopter across the border was found dead in Alicante, Spain, after being shot in the parking garage of an apartment building. Al Goodman reported from Madrid. Lauren Kent and Jack Guy wrote and reported from London.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rubio teases US sanctions on leading Brazil judge
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the United States may impose sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who has clashed with former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro and Elon Musk. Asked at a congressional hearing if President Donald Trump's administration was considering sanctions on Moraes, Rubio said: "That is under review now, and it's a great possibility that will happen." Moraes has been at odds with Musk, the world's richest person and close advisor of Trump, by temporarily blocking his X social media platform until it complied with the judge's orders to suspend accounts. Moraes said he was acting to protect democracy by targeting pervasive disinformation in Brazil, where Bolsonaro's supporters in 2023 stormed the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court as they claimed the election was stolen from him. The attack had striking similarities to the January 2021 riot at the US Capitol by supporters of Trump, a close ally of Bolsonaro. Moraes more recently ordered a suspension of Rumble, a video-sharing platform popular with conservative and far-right voices, over its refusal to block the account of a user based in the United States who was wanted for spreading disinformation. The State Department under Rubio criticized the judge's order as violating democratic values, leading Brazil to accuse the United States of politicizing a court decision. Rubio was asked if the United States could target Moraes under the Magnitsky Act, which freezes US-based assets and bars travel to the country for foreign officials accused of human rights abuses or corruption. The 2012 law is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian tax lawyer who died in prison after exposing corruption. sct/aha
