Shearman & Sterling LLP
Issue link: https://digital.shearman.com/i/1422677
11 OFAC TARGETS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CUBA The U.S. this quarter took concerted action to address alleged assaults on peaceful protesters in Cuba pursuant to E.O. 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act. The slew of sanctions measures against Cuban officials comes amid widespread reports of attacks on domestic protestors who are "calling on an end to the 62-year-old regime and deteriorating living conditions across the island, as well as demanding access to basic goods and services and medical attention." In the first action, on July 22, OFAC designated Alvaro Lopez Miera and the Brigada Especial Nacional Del Ministerio Del Interior of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior for their response to the protests that began on July 11. Lopez Miera, the leader of Cuba's Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, reportedly played a key role in repressing the ongoing protests, which were sparked by shortages of basic goods and power outages. Shortly thereafter, on July 30, OFAC designated the Cuban police force, the Policia Nacional Revolucionaria, and two of its leaders for their handling of the protests. According to OFAC, the PNR suppressed the protests by attacking and arresting peaceful demonstrations. OFAC designated PNR Director Oscar Callejas Valcarce and Deputy Director Eddy Sierra Arias for their roles in suppressing the protests. On August 13, OFAC designated the Tropas de Prevencion (TDP) of the Cuban Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) and two members of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in connection with the July protests in Cuba. The TDP, which functions as MINFAR's military police, was designated for being owned or controlled by recent designee Lopez Miera. MINFAR reportedly deployed the TDP to suppress the pro- democracy protests. Additionally, OFAC identified Romarico Vidal Sotomayor Garcia, Chief of the Political Director of MININT, and Pedro Orlando Martinez Fernandez, Chief of the Political Directorate of the PNR, for their roles in the protests. On August 19, OFAC designated Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Directorate of Operations of MINFAR, Roberto Legra Sotolengo, and Chief of the Central Army under MINFAR, Andres Laureano Gonzalez Brito, both for their roles in the July pro-democracy protests. OFAC additionally designated the Chief of the Directorate of Penitentiary Establishments under MININT, Abelardo Jimenez Gonzalez, for his role in the alleged maltreatment of more than 800 detained protestors.