Nicaragua-related Designations; Issuance of Amended Russia-related General License and Associated Frequently Asked Questions | Office of Foreign Assets Control
The update concerns OFAC sanctions designations and compliance obligations that directly affect payment institutions' transaction screening and AML/sanctions compliance procedures.
Low confidence — requires human review. While the update primarily addresses sanctions compliance, payment processors and acquiring entities must implement transaction screening controls to comply with SDN List requirements.
Specialism
The update explicitly designates individuals to the SDN List and imposes comprehensive sanctions including asset freezes and transaction prohibitions, which directly triggers the 'sanction/sanctioned' requirement for Sanctions classification.
The update requires entities to conduct regular screening of customers and transaction partners against the SDN List, which aligns with transaction screening obligations under Sanctions regulation.
2026-02-26 19:18:06·pdonofrio@vixio.com
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TITLE: United States Treasury Department Designates Five Nicaraguan Officials and Amends Russia-Related General License
BODY:
On February 26, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated five Nicaraguan officials to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). The designated individuals are Johana Vanessa Flores Jimenez, Leonel Jose Gutierrez Lopez, Denis Membreno Rivas, Celia Margarita Reyes Ochoa, and Aldo Martin Saenz Ulloa. OFAC stated the designations target officials enabling the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship's repression in Nicaragua.
The designations impose comprehensive sanctions on these individuals, freezing any assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction and generally prohibiting U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them. The action reflects the U.S. government's response to alleged human rights abuses and political repression in Nicaragua.
In related actions, OFAC issued Russia-related General License 131C, authorizing certain transactions for the negotiation of and entry into contingent contracts for the sale of Lukoil International GmbH and related maintenance activities. OFAC also issued two amended Russia-related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs 1224 and 1225) to provide guidance on compliance with Russia sanctions programmes.
Entities and individuals subject to U.S. sanctions jurisdiction should review the updated SDN List and consult OFAC guidance to ensure compliance with these designations. The SDN List is searchable on OFAC's website, and entities should conduct regular screening of their customers, counterparties, and transaction partners against the list.
REFERENCES:
Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury. Nicaragua-related Designations; Issuance of Amended Russia-related General License and Associated Frequently Asked Questions. February 26, 2026. https://ofac.treasury.gov/