Mr. Sanctions

Category: Global Magnitsky

  • May 18, 2026: OFAC Updates, Part 2: The Cuba Designations*

    Cuba Designations and Designations Updates; Issuance of Russia-related General License

    Additions:

    The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

    OFAC Program: [CUBA-EO14404]  Cuba-related sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14404, “Imposing Sanctions on Those Responsible for Repression in Cuba and for Threats to United States National Security and Foreign Policy”

    AREVICH MARIN, Mayra

    • Address: Cuba
    • DOB: 1966
    • POB: Havana, Cuba
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Female
    • Party Type: Individual

    Supplemental Information: Mayra Arevich Marin has served as Cuba’s Minister of Communications since April 2021, appointed by President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Prior to that role she served as Executive President of ETECSA (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba), Cuba’s state telecommunications monopoly, from 2011 to 2021. She is a telecommunications engineer who graduated in 1989 and holds a master’s degree in telematics from the Universidad Central de Las Villas Marta Abreu. She is a member of the PCC Central Committee and a deputy in the National Assembly of People’s Power.

    DE LA O LEVY, Vicente

    • Address: Havana, Cuba
    • DOB: 25 Apr 1962
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Male
    • Party Type: Individual

    Supplemental Information: Vicente De La O Levy is Cuba’s Minister of Energy and Mines, appointed in October 2022. A mechanical engineer by training, he spent his career in Cuba’s state energy sector, serving as Vice Minister of Sidero-Mechanics (1995–2001), President of ACINOX (2001–2003), and Director-General of Cuba’s state electricity utility (Unión Eléctrica de Cuba, 2005–2010). From 2010 to 2013 he led Cuba’s Energy Mission in Venezuela before serving as President of the Electronics Group until October 2022. In May 2026 he publicly acknowledged in a televised appearance that Cuba’s fuel reserves for electricity generation had been fully exhausted.

    GAMON VERDE, Rosabel

    • Address: Cuba
    • DOB: 09 Feb 1973
    • POB: Havana, Cuba
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Female
    • Party Type: Individual

    Supplemental Information: Rosabel Gamon Verde is Cuba’s Minister of Justice. She previously served as First Deputy Minister of Justice, in which capacity she represented Cuba at the 33rd session of the UN Commission for the Prevention of Crime and Criminal Justice in Vienna in May 2024, addressing Cuba’s anti-trafficking efforts. As Minister of Justice she has publicly defended government positions on law enforcement matters, including appearing alongside the head of MININT’s anti-narcotics directorate at a February 2026 press conference arguing that Cuba should be seen as a partner, not a threat, in counter-narcotics efforts.

    GOMEZ DEL VALLIN, Jose Miguel

    • Address: Las Tunas, Cuba
    • DOB: 06 Aug 1960
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Male
    • Party Type: Individual

    Supplemental Information: Jose Miguel Gomez del Vallin is a Major General (General de División) in Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), serving as head of the FAR’s Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (Contrainteligencia Militar, CIM). He holds a law degree (Licenciado en Derecho) and has served in counterintelligence roles across all three of Cuba’s armies (Eastern, Central, and Western). He served an internationalist mission in Angola from 1987 to 1989. He has been a member of the PCC Central Committee since 2021 and a National Assembly deputy since 2023, having served as a delegate to the 6th, 7th, and 8th PCC Congresses.

    LAZO HERNANDEZ, Juan Esteban

    • Address: Cuba
    • DOB: 26 Feb 1944
    • POB: Jovellanos, Provincia de Matanzas, Cuba
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Male
    • Party Type: Individual

    Supplemental Information: Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez is the President of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power (Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular, ANPP), a position he has held since February 2013. As ANPP president he also chairs the Council of State—the standing body that exercises legislative authority between Assembly sessions under the 2019 constitution—which he has headed since 2019. He joined the Communist Party in 1963 and has been an ANPP deputy since 1981. He is a longtime member of the PCC Politburo, joining it in 2003 per official Cuban sources, and is one of its longest-serving current members. His formal role at the head of the National Assembly made him the presiding officer over the legislative ratification of Miguel Díaz-Canel’s elections to the presidency in 2018 and 2023.

    MORALES OJEDA, Roberto Tomas

    • Address: Cienfuegos, Cuba
    • DOB: 15 Jun 1967
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Male
    • Party Type: Individual

    Supplemental Information: Roberto Tomas Morales Ojeda is a member of both the PCC Politburo and Secretariat, holding the cadres portfolio as Secretary of Organization and Cadre Policy of the PCC Central Committee since 2021—the role responsible for senior party appointments across Cuba. He previously served as a Vice President of Cuba (2018–2019) and as Minister of Public Health (2010–2018), during which he oversaw the international expansion of Cuba’s medical-mission program, one of the regime’s principal sources of hard currency. A physician who graduated in 1991, he also holds a master’s degree in public health. He has been widely described by analysts and Cuban opposition media as a leading candidate to succeed President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

    QUINTAS SOLA, Joaquin

    • Address: Colon, Matanzas, Cuba
    • DOB: 24 Sep 1938
    • POB: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Male
    • Party Type: Individual

    Supplemental Information: Joaquin Quintas Sola holds the rank of Army Corps General (General de Cuerpo de Ejército) in Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces and serves as Deputy (Vice) Minister of the FAR and Head of the Central Strategic Region. He is a Hero of the Republic of Cuba and has been a PCC Central Committee member since 1980. He joined the July 26 Movement in late 1956, participated in the final stages of the Cuban Revolution, and served two internationalist missions in Angola. He studied at the Soviet K. Voroshilov Military Academy and commanded the Central Army for approximately two decades before his current vice-ministerial role. He has also represented Cuba’s military in engagements with foreign armed forces, including supervising military exercises in Venezuela and leading official delegations to South Africa.

    RABILERO AGUILERA, Eugenio Armando

    • Address: Cuba
    • DOB: 06 Nov 1964
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Male
    • Party Type: Individual

    Supplemental Information: Eugenio Armando Rabilero Aguilera is a Major General (General de División) in Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, serving as Head of the Eastern Army (Ejército Oriental) since March 2024. The Eastern Army is responsible for the defense of Cuba’s six eastern provinces (Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo). He is a member of the PCC Central Committee. He served an internationalist mission in Angola from 1987 to 1989 as a platoon commander and holds the qualification of Tank Tactical Command Engineer. He has received multiple military decorations including the “Ignacio Agramonte” and “Combatiente Internacionalista” medals.

    VILLAR KESSELL, Raul

    • Address: Ciego de Avila, Cuba
    • DOB: 04 Aug 1965
    • POB: Bahia Honda, Artemisa Province, Cuba
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Male
    • Party Type: Individual

    Supplemental Information: Raul Villar Kessell is a Major General (General de División) in Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, serving as Head of the Central Army (Ejército Central). He was added to the PCC Central Committee in July 2025. He has notable ties to China’s military establishment, having completed graduate studies at the National Defense University of the People’s Republic of China, distinguishing him from most senior FAR officers who trained in Soviet-era academies. Analysts describe him as an emerging figure within Cuba’s military hierarchy, with strong strategic and theoretical training and significant connections within the Chinese military.

    The following entity has been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

    OFAC Program: [CUBA-EO14404]  Cuba-related sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14404, “Imposing Sanctions on Those Responsible for Repression in Cuba and for Threats to United States National Security and Foreign Policy”

    DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE OF CUBA (Latin: DIRECCIÓN DE INTELIGENCIA)

    • AKA:
      • DIRECCION GENERAL DE INTELIGENCIA
      • DGI
      • G2
    • Address: Cuba
    • Organization Established Date: 06 Jun 1961
    • Target Type: Government Entity

    Supplemental Information: The Directorate of Intelligence of Cuba (officially Dirección de Inteligencia, DI) is Cuba’s primary state intelligence agency, responsible for foreign intelligence collection. Commonly known as G2, it was called the Dirección General de Inteligencia (DGI) until 1989. It was founded in late 1961 under Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior, established with significant assistance and training from the Soviet KGB. The agency has six divisions across operational and support categories. During the Cold War it worked closely with the KGB, supported revolutionary movements in Latin America and Africa, and conducted espionage directed at the United States. Former U.S. Senate investigators and other sources have linked the DGI to support for Puerto Rican separatist groups and other foreign extremist networks. Its headquarters are located at Linea and A, Vedado, Havana.

    Amendments:

    The following changes have been made to OFAC’s SDN List:

    • OFAC Programs:
      • [GLOMAG]  Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 583; Executive Order 13818, “Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption”
      • [CUBA-EO14404]  Cuba-related sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14404, “Imposing Sanctions on Those Responsible for Repression in Cuba and for Threats to United States National Security and Foreign Policy”

    CALLEJAS VALCARCE, Oscar Alejandro

    • Address: Goycuria #119, 10 Octubre, Havana, Cuba
    • DOB: 19 Sep 1957
    • POB: Havana, Cuba
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Male
    • Passport: A006951 (Cuba) expires 18 Jul 2027
    • National ID No.: 57091910348 (Cuba)
    • Party Type: Individual
    • Linked To: POLICIA NACIONAL REVOLUCIONARIA

    Supplemental Information: Oscar Alejandro Callejas Valcarce served as Director of Cuba’s National Revolutionary Police (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria, PNR). He holds the rank of Brigadier General (General de Brigada) in the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. He was added to the PCC Central Committee in July 2025. His original GLOMAG designation reflected his leadership role in the PNR in connection with human rights abuses; this update adds the CUBA-EO14404 designation and removes the unlabeled position field from his SDN listing.

    List of Changes:

    • Position:
      • Deleted: Director, Policia Nacional Revolucionaria
    • Program Tags:
      • Added: [CUBA-EO14404]

    MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OF CUBA

    • AKA:
      • MINISTERIO DEL INTERIOR
      • MININT
    • Address: Aranguren and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Havana, Cuba
    • Organization Established Date: Jun 1961
    • Target Type: Government Entity

    Supplemental Information: The Ministry of Interior of Cuba (Ministerio del Interior, MININT) is Cuba’s primary internal security ministry, established in June 1961. It oversees state security, the National Revolutionary Police, immigration, the civil registry, and the prison system. It was originally designated under Global Magnitsky in connection with serious human rights abuses. This update changes its primary SDN List name (appending “OF CUBA”), adds a Target Type field, and adds the CUBA-EO14404 designation.

    List of Changes:

    • Primary Name:
      • Changed: MINISTRY OF INTERIOR to: MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OF CUBA
    • Target Type:
      • Added: Government Entity
    • Program Tags:
      • Added: [CUBA-EO14404]

    POLICIA NACIONAL REVOLUCIONARIA

    • AKA: NATIONAL REVOLUTIONARY POLICE
    • Address: Manzana que ocupan las calles Cuba, Tacon y Chacon, La Habana Vieja, Havana, Cuba
    • Organization Established Date: 05 Jan 1959
    • Target Type: Government Entity
    • Linked To: MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OF CUBA

    Supplemental Information: Cuba’s National Revolutionary Police (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria, PNR) is the country’s national law enforcement agency, established January 5, 1959, and subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. It was originally designated under Global Magnitsky in connection with human rights abuses in Cuba. This update adds the English AKA “NATIONAL REVOLUTIONARY POLICE,” adds an Organization Established Date of 05 Jan 1959, updates the Linked To reference to the now-renamed MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OF CUBA, and adds the CUBA-EO14404 designation.

    List of Changes:

    • AKA:
      • Added: NATIONAL REVOLUTIONARY POLICE
    • Organization Established Date:
      • Added: 05 Jan 1959
    • Program Tags:
      • Added: [CUBA-EO14404]
    • Linked To:
      • Changed: MINISTRY OF INTERIOR to: MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OF CUBA

    SIERRA ARIAS, Eddy Manuel

    • Address: Calle 206A, No. 2119B, Entre 21 y 23, Atabey, Playa, Havana, Cuba
    • DOB: 03 Sep 1971
    • POB: Holguin, Cuba
    • Nationality: Cuba
    • Gender: Male
    • Passport: A008237 (Cuba) expires 20 Apr 2027
    • National ID No.: 71090325982 (Cuba)
    • Party Type: Individual
    • Linked To: POLICIA NACIONAL REVOLUCIONARIA

    Supplemental Information: Eddy Manuel Sierra Arias served as Deputy Director of Cuba’s National Revolutionary Police (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria) at the time of his original GLOMAG designation. No additional reliable public information beyond his role in PNR leadership is available. This update adds the CUBA-EO14404 designation and removes the unlabeled position field from his SDN listing.

    List of Changes:

    • Position:
      • Deleted: Deputy Director, Policia Nacional Revolucionaria
    • Program Tags:
      • Added: [CUBA-EO14404]

    Mr. Sanctions’ Notes:

    • The title of the Recent Actions page only mentions the Cuba Sanctions program. However, as you may have noticed, updated records also include the Global Magnitsky program.
    • There was no Treasury or State Department press releases provided. So, I asked Claude to boil the ocean looking for supplemental info about the parties mentioned in the update. the list of those sources is below.

    Sources:

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  • March 27, 2026: OFAC delists from Russian and GLOMAG sanctions programs

    Global Magnitsky Designations Removals; Russia-related Designations Removals

    Delistings:

    The following deletions have been made to OFAC’s SDN List:

    OFAC Program: GLOMAG Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 583; Executive Order 13818.

    PORTNOV, Andriy Volodymyrovych (Cyrillic: ПОРТНОВ, Андрій Володимирович) (a.k.a. PORTNOV, Andrij Volodymyrovych; a.k.a. PORTNOV, Andriy), Ukraine; DOB 27 Oct 1973; POB Luhansk, Ukraine; nationality Ukraine; Gender Male; Passport PU262444 (Ukraine); National ID No. CO168696 (Ukraine) (individual).

    PORTNOV, Andrij Volodymyrovych (a.k.a. PORTNOV, Andriy; a.k.a. PORTNOV, Andriy Volodymyrovych (Cyrillic:ПОРТНОВ, Андрій Володимирович)), Ukraine; DOB 27 Oct 1973; POB Luhansk, Ukraine; nationality Ukraine; Gender Male; Passport PU262444 (Ukraine); National ID No. CO168696 (Ukraine) (individual).

    PORTNOV, Andriy (a.k.a. PORTNOV, Andrij Volodymyrovych; a.k.a. PORTNOV, Andriy Volodymyrovych (Cyrillic:ПОРТНОВ, Андрій Володимирович)), Ukraine; DOB 27 Oct 1973; POB Luhansk, Ukraine; nationality Ukraine; Gender Male; Passport PU262444 (Ukraine); National ID No. CO168696 (Ukraine) (individual).

    ANDRIY PORTNOV FUND (Cyrillic: ФОНД АНДРІЯ ПОРТНОВА) (a.k.a. CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION ANDRIY PORTNOV FUND (Cyrillic: БЛАГОДІЙНА ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯ ФОНД АНДРІЯ ПОРТНОВА)), Yevhena Konoval’tsya Street, Building 36-B, Apartment 50, Kyiv 01133, Ukraine (Cyrillic: ВУЛИЦЯ ЄВГЕНА КОНОВАЛЬЦЯ, будинок 36-В, квартира 50, Київ 01133, Ukraine); Target Type Charity or Nonprofit Organization; Company Number 43465723 (Ukraine) (Linked To: PORTNOV, Andriy Volodymyrovych).

    CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION ANDRIY PORTNOV FUND (Cyrillic: БЛАГОДІЙНА ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯ ФОНД АНДРІЯ ПОРТНОВА) (a.k.a. ANDRIY PORTNOV FUND (Cyrillic: ФОНД АНДРІЯ ПОРТНОВА)), Yevhena Konoval’tsya Street, Building 36-B, Apartment 50, Kyiv 01133, Ukraine (Cyrillic: ВУЛИЦЯ ЄВГЕНА КОНОВАЛЬЦЯ, будинок 36-В, квартира 50, Київ 01133, Ukraine); Target Type Charity or Nonprofit Organization; Company Number 43465723 (Ukraine) (Linked To: PORTNOV, Andriy Volodymyrovych).

    OFAC Program: RUSSIA-EO14024 Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR Part 587; Executive Order 14024.

    DMITRIEV, Vladimir Aleksandrovich, Moscow, Russia; DOB 25 Aug 1953; POB Moscow, Russia; nationalityRussia; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: See Section 11 of Executive Order 14024. (individual).

    VILLA, Frederic Pierre, Malta; DOB 21 Oct 1967; nationality Italy; alt. nationality Switzerland; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: See Section 11 of Executive Order 14024.; Passport X6107409 (Switzerland); alt. PassportYA6181234 (Italy) (individual) (Linked To: STRATTON INVESTMENT GROUP LTD).

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  • Working Backwards: December 12, 2025 OFAC Designation Delistings – with Formatting Corrections and Enhancements

    Global Magnitsky Designations Removals

    Delistings:

    The following deletions have been made to OFAC’s SDN List:

    OFAC Program: [GLOMAG] Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 583; Executive Order 13818

    BARCI, Viviane (a.k.a. BARCI DE MORAES, Viviane), Brazil; DOB 16 Jan 1969; POB Sao Paulo, Brazil; nationality Brazil; Gender Female; National ID No. 208841180 (Brazil); Diplomatic Passport DC000886 (Brazil); (individual) (Linked To: LEX – INSTITUTO DE ESTUDOS JURIDICOS LTDA)

    BARCI DE MORAES, Viviane (a.k.a. BARCI, Viviane), Brazil; DOB 16 Jan 1969; POB Sao Paulo, Brazil; nationality Brazil; Gender Female; National ID No. 208841180 (Brazil); Diplomatic Passport DC000886 (Brazil); (individual) (Linked To: LEX – INSTITUTO DE ESTUDOS JURIDICOS LTDA)

    DE MORAES, Alexandre, Brazil; DOB 13 Dec 1968; POB Sao Paulo, Brazil; nationality Brazil; Gender Male; Passport DC000887 (Brazil); National ID No. 142262109 (Brazil); (individual)

    LEX – INSTITUTO DE ESTUDOS JURIDICOS LTDA, Rua Campos Bicudo, 98, Floor 9, Suite 1, Room 3, Jardim Europa, Sao Paulo 04536-010, Brazil; Organization Established Date 01 Jun 2000; Organization Type: Activities of holding companies; Registration Number 03850784000135 (Brazil); (Linked To: DE MORAES, Alexandre)

    Supplemental Information: Alexandre de Moraes is a Justice of the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil. He and his spouse, Viviane Barci de Moraes, were previously designated under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program. This action removes them and the associated entity from the SDN List.

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