Tag Archive for sanctions

When ransomeware strikes: Navigating risks and regulatory responses

Ransomware attacks are affecting millions of organisations worldwide. What is the correct response when someone breaks into your organisation’s IT system, encrypts critically important data and demands a ransomware payment in exchange for an encryption key? Besides the obvious information security and business continuity concerns, there are other important aspects to consider, such as the…

Bulgaria’s never-ending election marathon

Update: On 6 June, after two months of negotiations, Bulgarian parliament approved a coalition government led by the prime minister Nikolai Denkov. The government was supported by the two largest parliamentary factions, the anti-communist and socially conservative GERB and the alliance of the right-of-centre We Continue the Change party (WCC) and the liberal Democratic Bulgaria (DB). Under the coalition agreement, Denkov, from the WCC-DB, will…

Sanctions: Trends and challenges in a tumultuous year

On 25 February 2023, the EU marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine by announcing its tenth package of sanctions against Russia. The new package added some 121 individuals and entities to the EU’s sanctions list, bringing the total under either an asset freeze or travel ban to 1,473 individuals and 205…

Russian parliamentary elections – a not so glorious victory

United Russia’s victory in the Russian parliamentary election in September 2021 is unlikely to mark a departure from the strained relationship of EU and US with Russia and to improve the prospects for doing international business in the country. Only the more robust investors are willing to accept the risks linked to operating in the…

The future of US sanctions on Iran

One of the top foreign policy priorities for the Biden administration is to strike a new nuclear deal with Iran. The administration got one step closer to reaching this goal at the beginning of April when indirect talks began between the two parties in Vienna to negotiate a return to the Obama-era deal (JCPOA, see…

The Rocky Road Ahead for US-Russia Relations

Relations between the US and Russia are widely expected to continue their downward trajectory when President Biden enters office on 20th January. Biden arrives in office in very different circumstances from previous incumbents. In most recent cases, US presidents have started their terms by seeking better relations with Russia. This time, however, there are no illusions…

Take-Aways – ACAMS Conference – Berlin 2019

Berlin Risk joined ACAMS 15th Annual Anti-Financial Crime Conference as an exhibitor, sponsor and speaker at the Berlin conference in June 2019. Berlin Risk’s Managing Director, Jennifer Hanley-Giersch, took part as a panelist focusing on the management of high-risk customers. She discussed adequate approaches to customer risk rating and what levels of investigations are necessary to also address reputational risk. With high-risk clients it is not sufficient to simply identify the UBO. “It is important to have an in-depth understanding of who the customer is, the countries of operations, wider business interest and political associations,” Jennifer said.

Enhanced Due Diligence in Managing Sanctions Risks

Jennifer Hanley-Giersch elaborates on the sanctions in force against Russia, Syria and Iran as well as those recently lifted against Belarus, highlighting the risks still associated with the countries.

Dispute with Iran: A Strategic Risk Assessment Tool for the Nuclear Talks

What are the chances of success and what are the factors of risk in the new round of talks between the Iranian government and the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (“P5+1”) about Iran’s disputed nuclear programmed? These questions will draw much attention by political decision-makers and business executives and students of…