Two Individuals Removed from Russia Sanctions

Summary#

The federal government removed 2 people from the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (SOR/2023-236). The change took effect on registration day, November 9, 2023, and means those two people are no longer subject to the specific Canadian sanctions listed in Schedule 1.

What it does#

• Repeals items 818 and 1143 in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, which removes the two listed individuals from that schedule.
• Stops the automatic sanctions that flowed from those listings — chiefly the asset freeze and bans on dealings that applied to listed people.
• The names will be removed from the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List to reflect the change.

Who's affected#

• The main people affected are the 2 individuals who were taken off Schedule 1. The Canada Gazette notice does not give their names.
• Canadians and people or businesses in Canada who had been prohibited from dealing with those individuals may now be able to transact, provide services, or interact with them.
• Global Affairs Canada is the department that handles these listings and delisting requests.

Why it matters#

• Removing someone from Schedule 1 lifts the practical restrictions that come with being listed: travel limits and bans on doing business or handling their property in Canada.
• This shows Canada’s delisting process is being used: people who can show they no longer meet the listing criteria can be removed.
• The government says this specific change has no expected security risk and is unlikely to have major economic effects. It is one small adjustment within Canada’s broader sanctions work (Canada has sanctioned more than 2,700 people and entities since 2014).