Biden Administration Issues New Sanctions On Russia In Connection With SolarWinds And Election Interference Efforts

On April 15, 2021, President Biden signed a new Executive Order on "Blocking Property with Respect to Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation," declaring a new national emergency and authorizing sweeping sanctions in response to recent "harmful foreign activities" undertaken by Russia. Further, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a directive prohibiting certain dealings in Russian sovereign debt and imposed new targeted sanctions. These sanctions designated 22 entities and 16 individuals as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) in connection with efforts to undermine US national security, including involvement in the Kremlin-linked SolarWinds cyber-attack and Russia's efforts to influence the 2020 US presidential election. Treasury also designated additional persons regarding Russia's continued occupation of the Crimea region of Ukraine. In parallel, the State Department expelled 10 Russian