Terrorism-related sanctions

Lithuania implements international sanctions related to terrorism, as set out in United Nations Security Council resolutions (and implemented by EU legislation) and in autonomous EU restrictive measures. These measures are implemented in accordance withthe Law on International Sanctions and the Description of the procedure for the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions establishing targeted financial sanctions in the areas of terrorism and terrorist financing and proliferation and financing of weapons of mass destruction, approved byresolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania “On the Implementation of the Republic of Lithuania Law on International Sanctions” (hereinafter – the “Description of the Procedure”).

In order to comply with the recommendations of the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on the implementation of the United Nations Security Resolutions on the prevention and suppression of terrorism and the financing of terrorism and to implement the requirements of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Measures to Combat Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL), the Procedure Schedule provides for:

• the procedure for proposing and removing natural or legal persons, groups and entities from the lists of targeted financial sanctions adopted by the United Nations Security Council resolutions imposing targeted financial sanctions in the areas of terrorism and terrorist financing and the proliferation and financing of weapons of mass destruction, or from the lists of targeted financial sanctions adopted by the Security Council Committees established pursuant to the United Nations Security Council resolutions;
• procedures for enforcing targeted financial sanctions in the areas of terrorism and terrorist financing and proliferation and financing of weapons of mass destruction.
• that the Financial Crimes Investigation Service shall establish a list of natural or legal persons, groups and entities associated with terrorist acts whose funds and other financial assets shall be frozen, taking into account the criteria set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) (as amended);
• that the conclusions on the persons, groups and organisations to be proposed for inclusion or to be included in the lists shall be submitted by the Coordination Commission for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, established by Resolution No 740 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 11July 2022 “On the Establishment of the Coordination Commission for the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism”.

RESTRICTIVE MEASURES OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

In accordance with Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, targeted financial sanctions may be imposed not only where specific entities are found to have committed a terrorist act, but also where the competent committee of the United Nations Security Council determines that the entities are involved in the financing, planning, equipping, preparing, conducting activities in connection with, or supplying, selling, transferring, or transferring arms or related materiel to, or providing recruiting services to, or otherwise supporting, a terrorist group.

Targeted financial sanctions include both asset freezes and prohibitions against making funds or other assets available, directly or indirectly, to listed persons and entities. The Resolutions of the UNSC require the freezing of funds or other assets, which includes any assets, including but not limited to: financial assets, economic resources, tangible or intangible, movable or immovable property of every kind, however acquired, and any form of legal document or instrument, including electronic or digital, evidencing ownership of such funds or other property or any part thereof, including, but not limited to, bank credits, traveller’s cheques, money orders, shares, securities, bonds, promissory notes, as well as any interest, dividends or other income from, or the value of, any such funds or other property accruing or derived from such funds or other property.

The United Nations Security Council has established two committees to deal with international sanctions imposed on terrorist organisations and individuals associated with them:

The United Nations Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) coordinates the list of internationally sanctioned persons associated with Al-Qaida. Information on the activities of the Sanctions Committee, relevant legislation, sanctions and exemptions and other relevant information is available on the Sanctions Committee (1267) website.

The United Nations Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) regularly updates the lists of persons belonging to and associated with the Taliban. These individuals are subject to international sanctions consisting of travel restrictions, asset freezes and arms embargoes. Information on the activities of the Sanctions Committee, relevant legislation, sanctions and exemptions and other relevant information is available on the Sanctions Committee (1988) website.

EUROPEAN UNION RESTRICTIVE MEASURES

In the context of the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), the Council of the European Union is authorised to decide on the imposition of restrictive measures, often referred to as sanctions, against countries, non-state actors or persons outside the European Union.

EU sanctions can be imposed in the context of implementing measures for United Nations Security Council resolutions or independently, i.e. at the initiative of the European Union.

Restrictive measures may include:

• a ban on the export of arms and related materiel;
• entry restrictions (visas/travel bans);
• economic measures such as import and export restrictions;
• the freezing of funds and economic resources belonging to the targeted persons or entities.

The European Union implements measures against individuals and groups designated on the so-called “EU terrorism list”, which is based on theEuropean Union Common Position 2001/931/CFSP (as well asRegulation(EC) No 2580/2001) and its amending and implementing legislation. The list includes persons and entities associated with terrorist activities and subject to EU sanctions.