US warns Turkey among others to comply with Russia sanctions

The U.S. government on Thursday urged companies in Turkey and several other countries to comply with Russia sanctions imposed after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, warning that failure to do so could lead to possible prosecution or enforcement action.

Companies should be aware of tactics used to circumvent restrictions and sanctions against Russia. These include the use of shell companies, aliases, and disguised shipping information, the U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, and Treasury said in a joint release.

The guidance mentioned Turkey, as well as China, Armenia, and Uzbekistan, as "transshipment points" through which "prohibited goods are illegally diverted to Russia or Belarus"

"Businesses of all types should act responsibly by implementing rigorous compliance controls," the joint notice added.

The United States, Europe and other partners imposed a series of sanctions on a range of individuals and entities in an economic tribute to Moscow after Russian troops invaded Ukraine a year ago. The sanctions freeze all U.S. assets and prevent the conduct of business with sanctioned parties.

The departments said "malign actors continue to try to evade Russia‐related sanctions and export controls," including through use of third party intermediaries.

The U.S. Commerce Department also recently imposed export curbs on nearly 90 Russian and third-country companies, including some in China, for engaging in sanctions evasion in support of Russia's defense sector and prohibiting them from buying items like semiconductors. The U.S. was also working to prevent components found in Iranian drones from making their way to the Ukrainian battlefield.