OFAC removed sanctions on Latvia's Ventspils Freeport Authority following a change in control of the entity.

Under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act General License Number 1, U.S. persons are allowed to conduct certain otherwise prohibited transactions necessary to wind down activities with Ventspils Freeport Authority and three related companies until January 8, 2020. As previously covered, these Latvian companies and their owner, Aivars Lembergs - who has also served as the Mayor of Ventspils, Latvia - were among over two dozen individuals and entities added to OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.

Property and interests in property of Ventspils Freeport Authority that had been blocked solely as a result of the entity's designation are now unblocked. OFAC also issued an amended General License 1A to account for the removal of Ventspils Freeport Authority from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.

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