Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act Annual Report, 12921-12926 [2025-04530]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12921-12926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04530]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 12685]


Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act Annual Report

SUMMARY: This notice contains the text of the report required by the 
Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Self, Senior Advisor, Bureau of 
Economic and Business Affairs, Email: [email protected], Phone: (202) 
412 -3586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 12, 2025, the Acting Under 
Secretary of State for Political Affairs approved the following report 
pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (Pub. 
L. 114-328, Title XII, Subtitle F) (``the Act''), which is implemented 
and built upon by Executive Order 13818 of December 20, 2017, 
``Executive Order Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious 
Human Rights Abuse or Corruption'' (E.O. 13818). The text of the report 
follows:
    Pursuant to section 1264 of the Act, and consistent with E.O. 
13818, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of 
the Treasury, submits this report on the implementation of the Act 
during the 2024 reporting period.
    The Global Magnitsky sanctions program is the United States' 
flagship foreign policy tool for promoting accountability for human 
rights abuse and corruption globally. The U.S. government implements 
and builds upon the Act under E.O. 13818, Blocking the Property of 
Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption, issued on 
December 20, 2017. In 2024, the United States designated 70 foreign 
persons under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program, bringing the 
total foreign persons designated under the program to over 740. Global 
Magnitsky designations in 2024 represent the most geographically 
expansive set of designations to date, including targets in over 19 
countries from nearly every major geographic region.
    Throughout 2024, the Global Magnitsky sanctions program was used to 
advance U.S. interests and foreign policy goals. During the reporting 
period, State and Treasury worked together to pursue designations in 
furtherance of several anti-corruption and human rights thematic 
priorities. These priorities included disrupting transnational 
corruption, including enablers of corruption, and promoting 
accountability for human rights abuses involving violence against women 
and girls, arbitrary detention, and forced labor. Action on these 
priorities helped address some of the most pervasive and egregious 
manifestations of corruption and human rights abuse around the world. 
Additionally, these priorities reflected State and Treasury's 
assessment of which corruption and human rights-related typologies 
economic sanctions are impactful in addressing.
    Corruption-related designations in 2024 included designations 
combatting public corruption in Guatemala, Guyana, Paraguay, and 
Zimbabwe and designations disrupting a global corruption network 
involved in gold smuggling and money laundering. Human rights-related 
designations included designations promoting accountability for the 
arbitrary detention of a human rights defender in Russia and U.S. 
locally employed staff in Yemen; egregious acts of violence against 
women and girls in Haiti and Uzbekistan; violent abuses against 
peaceful protesters in Georgia; forced labor and human trafficking in 
Cambodia; and political repression in Zimbabwe.

Global Magnitsky Designations by Country

    In 2024, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the 
Secretary of State and the Attorney General, imposed economic sanctions 
on the following 70 foreign persons (individuals and entities) pursuant 
to E.O. 13818 (presented alphabetically by country):

Cambodia

     Ly Yong Phat: Ly Yong Phat (Ly) was designated on 
September 12, 2024, for being a foreign person who is responsible for 
or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious 
human rights abuse, related to the treatment of trafficked workers 
subjected to forced labor in online scam centers. Ly is a Cambodian 
senator and tycoon who owns L.Y.P. Group, which owns O-Smach Resort. 
Concurrent with the designation of Ly, the following entities were 
designated:
     O-Smach Resort: O-Smach Resort was designated on September 
12, 2024, for being a foreign person who is

[[Page 12922]]

responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged 
in, serious human rights abuse, related to the treatment of trafficked 
workers subjected to forced labor in online scam operations. From 2022-
2024, police investigated, and media publicly reported on, extensive 
and systematic serious human rights abuses at O-Smach Resort. Victims 
reported being lured to O-Smach Resort with false employment 
opportunities, having their phones and passports confiscated upon 
arrival, and being forced to advance scam operations. People who called 
for help reported being beaten, abused with electric shocks, made to 
pay a hefty ransom, or threatened with being sold to other online scam 
gangs. There were two reports of victims jumping to their deaths from 
buildings within O-Smach Resort.
     L.Y.P. Group., LTD: On September 12, 2024, L.Y.P. Group 
Co., LTD was designated for being a foreign person who is responsible 
for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious 
human rights abuse, related to the treatment of trafficked workers 
subjected to forced labor in online scam centers. L.Y.P. Group owns O-
Smach Resort.
     Garden City Hotel, Koh Kong Resort, and Phnom Penh Hotel: 
These entities were designated on September 12, 2024, for being owned 
or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf 
of, directly or indirectly, Ly, an individual concurrently designated 
pursuant to E.O. 13818.

Georgia

     Zviad Kharazishvili: Chief of the Special Task Department 
of Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs Zviad Kharazishvili 
(Kharazishvili) was designated on September 16, 2024, for being a 
foreign person who is, or has been, a leader or official of an entity, 
including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members 
have engaged in, serious human rights abuse related to the leader's or 
official's tenure, particularly related to undermining fundamental 
freedoms, including freedom of expression, in Georgia. On May 28, 2024, 
despite weeks of mass protests against the proposed legislation, the 
ruling Georgia Dream party passed a law titled ``On Transparency of 
Foreign Influence,'' known colloquially as the ``foreign influence 
law.'' This law requires nongovernmental organizations and outlets, 
including media organizations, that receive more than 20 percent of 
their funding from foreign sources to register as organizations 
``pursuing the interest of a foreign power.'' During the protests that 
occurred prior to passage of the law, security forces from the Ministry 
of Internal Affairs' Special Task Department violently targeted 
Georgian citizens, political opposition leaders, journalists, and youth 
activists who were peacefully expressing their views. This violence was 
overseen by the task department's chief, Kharazishvili.
     Mileri Lagazauri: Mileri Lagazauri (Lagazauri), Deputy 
Chief of the Special Task Department of the Georgia's Ministry of 
Internal Affairs, was designated on September 16, 2024, for being a 
foreign person who is, or has been, a leader or official of an entity, 
including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members 
have engaged in, serious human rights abuse related to the leader's or 
official's tenure, particularly related to undermining fundamental 
freedoms, including freedom of expression, in Georgia. More 
specifically, Lagazauri was associated with brutal crackdowns on 
peaceful protesters and political opponents. During the protests that 
occurred prior to passage of the foreign influence law, Lagazauri, one 
of Kharazishvili's deputies, oversaw violence by security forces from 
the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Special Task Department targeting 
Georgian citizens, political opposition leaders, journalists, and youth 
activists who were peacefully expressing their views.
     Konstantine Morgoshia: Konstantine Morgoshia (Morgoshia) 
was designated on September 16, 2024, for being a foreign person 
responsible or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged 
in, serious human rights abuse. Morgoshia is a founder of Alt-Info, a 
media company he used to amplify disinformation and spread hate speech 
and threats against communities. In 2021 and 2023, he advocated for 
violent attacks against people peacefully exercising their fundamental 
freedoms of expression and assembly and led hundreds of followers to 
break into nongovernmental organization offices and attack journalists 
and police officers at the scene.
     Zurab Makharadze: Zurab Makharadze (Makharadze) was 
designated on September 16, 2024, for being a foreign person 
responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly 
engaged in, serious human rights abuse. Makharadze is a media 
personality associated with Alt-info and was one of the most vocal 
supporters of violence against peaceful demonstrators. He directly 
encouraged violence against minority groups and journalists online 
prior to the violent attacks on marginalized communities and helped to 
direct, organize, and fundraise for violence targeting human rights 
protesters in 2021 and 2023. During the attacks, he led a group to 
remove protesters from in front of the Georgian parliament and then 
instructed followers to go with Konstantine Morgoshia to attack 
nongovernmental organization offices.
     Vakhtang Gomelauri: Georgia's Minister of Internal Affairs 
Vakhtang Gomelauri (Gomelauri) was designated on December 19, 2024, for 
being a foreign person who is or has been a leader or official of an 
entity, including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose 
members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse related to the 
leader's or official's tenure. Gomelauri oversaw the violence 
perpetrated by the Special Task Department, including brutal crackdowns 
and beatings of peaceful protesters.
     Mirza Kezevadze: Deputy Head of the Special Task 
Department in Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs Mirza Kezevadze 
(Kezevadze) was designated on December 19, 2024, for being a foreign 
person who is or has been a leader or official of an entity, including 
any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have 
engaged in, serious human rights abuse related to the leader's or 
official's tenure. In addition to aforementioned individuals, Kezevadze 
oversaw the violence perpetrated by the Special Task Department.

Guatemala

     Alberto Pimentel Mata: Guatemala's Minister of Energy and 
Mining Alberto Pimentel Mata (Pimentel) was designated on January 17, 
2024, for being a foreign person who is a current or former government 
official, or person acting for or on behalf of such an official, who is 
responsible for or complicit in, or who has directly or indirectly 
engaged in, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, 
the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption 
related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, 
or bribery. During Pimentel's time as the energy minister, he engaged 
in numerous corruption schemes exploiting the Guatemalan mining sector 
through widespread bribery, including schemes related to government 
contracts and mining licenses. Additionally, Pimentel reportedly 
accepted large monthly payments to facilitate the acquisition of 
necessary permits and licenses for a private company operating in the 
energy and mining sector of Guatemala. In

[[Page 12923]]

another instance, Pimentel reportedly received a large illicit payment 
to begin the consultation process with local communities in El Estor, 
Izabal, Guatemala for the benefit of private entities. Separately, he 
reportedly requested large bribes of more than $1 million from mining 
industry groups in Guatemala in exchange for mining licenses.

Guyana

     Mohamed's Enterprise: Mohamed's Enterprise, one of 
Guyana's largest gold exporters, was designated on June 11, 2024, for 
being a person who has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided 
financial, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in 
support of, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, 
the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption 
related to government contracts of the extraction of natural resources, 
or bribery, that is conducted by a foreign person. Mohamed's Enterprise 
bribed customs officials to falsify import and export documents, as 
well as to facilitate illicit gold shipments. The organization also 
paid bribes to Guyanese government officials to ensure the undisrupted 
flow of inbound and outbound personnel that move currency and other 
items on behalf of Mohamed's Enterprise and Azruddin Mohamed.
     Nazar Mohamed: Nazar Mohamed was designated on June 11, 
2024, for being a foreign person who is or has been a leader of 
official of Mohamed's Enterprise.
     Hadi's World: Hadi's World was designated on June 11, 
2024, for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or 
purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mohamed's 
Enterprise.
     Azruddin Mohamed: Azruddin Mohamed (Azruddin) was 
designated on June 11, 2024, for being a person who has materially 
assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, or technological support 
for, or goods or services to or in support of, corruption, including 
the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private 
assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts of 
the extraction of natural resources, or bribery, that is conducted by a 
foreign person. Azruddin took over Mohamed's Enterprise and evaded 
Guyana's tax on gold exports and defrauded the Guyanese government of 
tax revenues by under-declaring its gold exports to Guyanese 
authorities. In addition, Azruddin is the principal and owner of Team 
Mohamed's Racing Team, a drag racing organization in Guyana.
     Team Mohamed's Racing Team: Team Mohamed's Racing Team was 
designated on June 11, 2024, for being owned or controlled by, or for 
having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or 
indirectly, Azruddin.
     Mae Thomas: Former Permanent Secretary to Guyana's 
Minister of Home Affairs Mae Thomas (Thomas) was designated on June11, 
2024, for being a foreign person who is a current or former government 
official, or a person acting for or on behalf of such an official, who 
is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly 
engaged in, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, 
the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption 
related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, 
or bribery. When Thomas was the Permanent Secretary to Guyana's 
Minister of Home Affairs, she used her position to offer benefits to 
Mohamed's Enterprise and Azruddin, among others, in exchange for cash 
payments and high-value gifts. Thomas misused her position to influence 
the award of official contract bids and the approval processes for 
weapons permits and passports on behalf of Mohamed's Enterprise.

Haiti

     Prophane Victor: Former Haitian legislator Prophane Victor 
(Victor) was designated on September 25, 2024, for being a person who 
has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or 
technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, an 
entity, including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose 
members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse, where the activity 
is conducted by a foreign person. Victor started arming young men in 
Petite Riviere, Artibonite to secure his control over the area and his 
election in 2016. Those men went on to form the Gran Grif gang, which 
is currently the largest gang in the Artibonite department and the main 
perpetrator of abuses, including sexual violence. Victor materially 
supported Gran Grif until 2020. Victor also trafficked weapons to Haiti 
and is known to have had relationships with and provided funds to other 
gangs throughout Haiti, including rivals of Gran Grif. Victor's gang 
affiliations and material support to them contributed to the climate of 
terror as the gangs engaged in an array of cruelty, violence, and fight 
for control, leaving residents to pay the consequences.
     Luckson Elan: Head of the Haiti-based Gran Grif gang 
Luckson Elan (Elan) was designated on September 25, 2024, for being a 
foreign person who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly 
or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse, and for being or 
having been a leader or official of an entity, including any government 
entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious 
human rights abuse relating to the leader's or official's tenure. Elan 
is the current head of the Gran Grif gang and is responsible for 
serious human rights abuse including kidnapping, murder, beating, and 
raping of women and children, as well as looting, destruction, 
extortion, hijacking, and stealing crops and livestock in Haiti.

Paraguay

     Tabacalera del Este S.A.: Tabacalera del Este S.A. 
(Tabesa) was designated on August 6, 2024, for having materially 
assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological 
support for, or goods or services to or in support of former Paraguayan 
president Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara (Cartes), a person whose property 
and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13818. OFAC 
previously identified Tabesa on OFAC's Specially Designated National 
and Blocked Persons (SDN) List as an entity in which Cartes owned, 
directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest. While Cartes 
no longer owns Tabesa following a sales agreement to acquire Carte's 
shares in the company, Tabesa made--and planned to continue making--
payments worth millions of dollars to Cartes, despite Cartes's 
designation by OFAC.

Russia

     Olesya Mendeleeva: Russian judge Olesya Mendeleeva 
(Mendeleeva) was designated on December 31, 2024, for being a foreign 
person who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or 
indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse. In July 2022, 
Mendeleeva sentenced Alexei Gorinov, a Moscow city councilor, public 
defender, and human rights activist, to seven years in prison for 
voicing opposition to the war against Ukraine. Gorinov suffered 
physical abuse and denial of medical treatment in detention. Known for 
handing down long and harsh sentences, Mendeleeva convicted Gorinov for 
``knowingly disseminating false information about the Russian 
military'' after he accurately called Russia's invasion of Ukraine a 
``war,'' becoming the first judge in Russia to find a defendant guilty 
of such a charge. While awaiting trial, Gorinov fell ill, and 
Mendeleeva repeatedly

[[Page 12924]]

refused to release him from pre-trial custody to seek treatment. During 
the trial, Mendeleeva refused to consider the defense witnesses' 
testimonies and reasoned that Gorinov's ``reformation'' would be 
impossible without imprisonment.

Uzbekistan

     Yulduz Khudaiberganova: Yulduz Khudaiberganova 
(Khudaiberganova), a former orphanage director, was designated on the 
International Day of the Abolition of Slavery, December 2, 2024, for 
being a foreign person responsible for or complicit in, or having 
directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse, 
particularly her involvement in human trafficking and violence against 
women and girls, including physical and sexual violence against 
children at a state-run orphanage in Urgench, Uzbekistan. For at least 
10 months, Khudaiberganova forced at least three underage girls to 
engage in sexual acts with at least six different men in exchange for 
funds and goods. Khudaiberganova used various coercive tactics to 
ensure the girls' compliance, including physical beatings, threats, 
starvation, and isolation from their peers.
     Aybek Masharipov: Aybek Masharipov (Masharipov), former 
head of the Khorezm Regional Justice Department, was designated on the 
International Day of the Abolition of Slavery, December 2, 2024, for 
being a foreign person responsible for or complicit in, or having 
directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse, 
particularly his involvement in human trafficking and violence against 
women and girls, including physical and sexual violence against 
children at a state-run orphanage in Urgench, Uzbekistan. Masharipov 
demanded sexual access to orphans in compensation for ``gifts'' he 
provided to the orphanage. Masharipov also repeatedly visited the 
orphanage in order to prey upon the young girls.
     Anvar Kuryazov: Anvar Kuryazov (Kuryazov), former head of 
the District Emergency Department, was designated on the International 
Day for the Abolition of Slavery, December 2, 2024, for being a foreign 
person responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or 
indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse, particularly his 
involvement in human trafficking and violence against women and girls, 
including physical and sexual violence against children at a state-run 
orphanage in Urgench, Uzbekistan. Kuryazov demanded sexual access to 
orphans in compensation for ``gifts'' he provided to the orphanage. 
Kuryazov also repeatedly visited the orphanage in order to prey upon 
the young girls.

Yemen

     Houthi National Committee for Prisoner's Affairs and 
Abdulqader Al-Murtadha: On December 9, 2024, the Houthi National 
Committee for Prisoner's Affairs (HNCPA) and its leader, Abdulqader Al-
Murtadha (Al-Murtadha), were designated for being foreign persons who 
are responsible for or complicit in, or have directly or indirectly 
engaged in, serious human rights abuse. Al-Murtadha was also designated 
for being a foreign person who is a leader or official of an entity, 
including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members 
have engaged in, serious human rights abuse relating to the leader's or 
official's tenure. The HNCPA operates Houthi prisons in Yemen. At one 
of the prisons, known as the Exchange House in Sana'a, prisoners were 
systematically subjected to torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, 
or degrading treatment or punishment by the prison's staff. Detainees 
included current and former locally employed U.S. embassy staff, UN 
staff, humanitarian workers, and journalists; many were reported to be 
arbitrarily detained, and some of the prisoners are minors. Prison 
officials engaged in systematic psychological and physical cruelty and 
punishment, including mock executions, beatings, and electrocution, 
among other abuses. Prison officials denied prisoners adequate medical 
care; as a result, some prisoners have permanent disabilities, and some 
have reportedly died.

Zimbabwe

     Emmerson Mnangagwa: Emmerson Mnangagwa (Mnangagwa), the 
President of Zimbabwe, was designated on March 4, 2024, for being a 
foreign person who is a current or former government official, or a 
person acting for or on behalf of such an official, who is responsible 
for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, 
corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the 
expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related 
to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or 
bribery. Mnangagwa was also designated for being a foreign person who 
is or has been a leader or official of an entity, including any 
government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged 
in, serious human rights abuse relating to the leader's or official's 
tenure. Mnangagwa is involved in corrupt activities, in particular 
those relating to gold and diamonds smuggling networks. Mnangagwa 
provides a protective shield to smugglers to operate in Zimbabwe and 
has directed Zimbabwean officials to facilitate the sale of gold and 
diamonds in illicit markets, taking bribes in exchange for his 
services. Mnangagwa also oversees Zimbabwe's security services, which 
have violently repressed political opponents and civil society groups.
     Auxillia Mnangagwa: Auxillia Mnangagwa (Auxillia), the 
First Lady of Zimbabwe, was designated on March 4, 2024, for being a 
current or former government official, or a person acting for or on 
behalf of such an official, who is responsible for or complicit in, or 
has directly or indirectly engaged in, corruption, including the 
misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets 
for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the 
extraction of natural resources, or bribery. Auxillia facilitated her 
husband's corrupt activities.
     Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei: Zimbabwean businessman 
Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei (Tagwirei) was designated on March 4, 
2024, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, 
material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in 
support of corruption, and the transfer or the facilitation of the 
transfer of proceeds of corruption. President Mnangagwa benefits from 
the corrupt network of Zimbabwean businessman Tagwirei. Tagwirei is one 
of the sole beneficial owners of Sakunda Holdings.
     Sakunda Holdings: Sakunda Holdings was designated on March 
4, 2024, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided 
financial material, or technological support for, or goods or services 
to or in support of corruption, and for being owned or controlled by, 
or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of Tagwirei.
     Sandra Mpunga: Sandra Mpunga (Mpunga), Tagwirei's wife, 
was designated on March 4, 2024, for having acted or purported to act 
for or on behalf of Sakunda Holdings. Mpunga is one of the sole 
beneficial owners of Sakunda Holdings.
     Fossil Agro: Fossil Agro was designated on March 4, 2024, 
for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, 
material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in 
support of Sakunda Holdings.
     Obey Chimuka: Obey Chimuka (Chimuka) was designated on 
March 4, 2024, for being owned or controlled by,

[[Page 12925]]

or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, Tagwirei. 
Chimuka also sits on the board and serves as director of several 
Tagwirei-owned companies.
     Fossil Contracting: Fossil Contracting was designated on 
March 4, 2024, for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or 
purported to act for or on behalf of, Chimuka. Chimuka owns Fossil 
Contracting, which received Government of Zimbabwe contracts that 
facilitated acts of corruption.
     Constantino Chiwenga: Constantino Chiwenga (Chiwenga) was 
designated on March 4, 2024, for being a foreign person who is or has 
been a leader or official of an entity, including any government 
entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious 
human rights abuse relating to the leader's or official's tenure. Under 
the leadership of Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe's First Vice-President 
Chiwenga, Zimbabwe's security forces have engaged in the violent 
repression of political activists and civil society organizations. 
Mnangagwa's reelection was marred by fraud, the deployment of groups 
who intimidated voters, and the use of government-organized ``ferret 
teams.'' Since the election, the ferret teams, comprising intelligence, 
police, and military personnel, were likely involved in the abduction 
of up to 12 individuals associated with civil society organizations or 
opposition parties, including Tapfumanei Masaya, who was found dead on 
November 13, 2023. Abductees reported being pushed into vehicles, 
beaten and stripped naked, injected with unknown substances, threatened 
with retaliation, and later dumped on the roadside outside of Harare. 
In 2019, ferret teams reportedly abducted and assaulted more than 50 
people. Opposition supporters also claimed to have been tortured by 
security officials, including being stripped, beaten, and whipped at a 
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) station.
     Oppah Muchinguri: Oppah Muchinguri (Muchinguri) was 
designated on March 4, 2024, for being a foreign person who is or has 
been a leader or official of an entity, including any government entity 
that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human 
rights abuse relating to the leader's or official's tenure. Muchinguri 
is responsible for overseeing Zimbabwe's Defense Forces and is the 
chair of the national Joint Operation Command. Under her leadership, 
Zimbabwe's military personnel have engaged in violent repression.
     Godwin Matanga: Godwin Matanga (Matanga) was designated on 
March 4, 2024, for being a foreign person who is or has been a leader 
or official of an entity that has, or whose members have, engaged in 
serious human rights abuse relating to the leader's or official's 
tenure. Matanga was the Commissioner-General of the ZRP. Under his 
leadership, ZRP members participated in ferret team activities.
     Stephen Mutamba: Stephen Mutamba (Mutamba) was designated 
on March 4, 2024, for being a foreign person who is or has been a 
leader or official of an entity, including any government entity, that 
has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights 
abuse relating to the leader's or official's tenure. Mutamba has been a 
Deputy Commissioner-General of the ZRP since at least 2019. Under his 
leadership, ZRP members have engaged in the violent oppression of 
political opposition.
     Walter Tapfumaneyi: Walter Tapfumaneyi (Tapfumaneyi) was 
designated on March 4, 2024, for being a foreign person who is or has 
been a leader or official of an entity, including any government 
entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious 
human rights abuse relating to the leader's or official's tenure. 
Tapfumaneyi has been the Deputy Director General of Zimbabwe's Central 
Intelligence Organization (CIO) since 2020. He reportedly answered 
directly to Mnangagwa and led the campaign to disrupt the 2023 
electoral process through his leadership of ruling party-affiliated 
groups. He was also alleged to have been personally involved in past 
kidnappings.
     Owen Ncube: Owen Ncube (Ncube) was designated on March 4, 
2024, for being a foreign person that is responsible for or complicit 
in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights 
abuse. Ncube was Zimbabwe's Minister of State Security from 2018 to 
2022, during which time he ordered security services to identify, 
abduct, and mistreat individuals assessed to be supporters of a 
Zimbabwean opposition group. He was recently reappointed to government 
as the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs. He was 
reported to lead a notoriously violent group that was alleged to be 
responsible for attacks and killings around Kwekwe, Zimbabwe.

Global Corruption Network

    On December 9, 2024, 28 individuals and entities were sanctioned 
for their involvement in a global gold smuggling and money laundering 
network based in Zimbabwe.
     The global network led by Kenyan individual Kamlesh 
Mansukhlal Damji Pattni (Pattni) facilitated illicit activities by 
bribing officials, deploying trusted supporters to mask ownership, and 
weaving a global web of businesses to hide the illicit activities. 
Pattni was designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or 
provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or 
services to or in support ofcorruption, including the misappropriation 
of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, 
corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural 
resources, or bribery. This fraudulent scheme robbed Zimbabwe's 
citizens of the benefit of those natural resources while enriching 
corrupt government officials and criminal actors. The designation of 
the Pattni's web of supporters and companies illustrate how illicit 
activity based in Zimbabwe spread across multiple countries, using a 
web of trusted supporters, and bribing government officials to concoct 
a complex corruption scheme. Pattni's network has spread across 
multiple countries, reflecting the global nature of corruption. More 
recently, Pattni and several of his supporters have looked to establish 
new operations in other resource-rich countries, further compounding 
the threat of his illicit network poses to the U.S. and global 
financial systems. In addition to Pattni, the following entities and 
individuals below were designated:

[ssquf] Mukesh Manuskhlal Vaya, Kenyan national
[ssquf] Swetang Sinha, Indian national
[ssquf] Rahul Sood, Indian national
[ssquf] Mishaal Hitesh Pattni, Kenyan national
[ssquf] Sanjay Keshavji Vaya, Kenyan national
[ssquf] Raj Vaya Sanjay, Kenyan national
[ssquf] David Paul Crosby, British national
[ssquf] Dmytro Abakumov, Ukrainian national
[ssquf] Sun Multinational DMCC, United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Marwa Investments Limited, United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Fiza Gold and Bullion Trading L.L.C., United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Golden Luxury Jewellery Trading L.L.C., United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Memories Golden Jewellery L.L.C., United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Ruhmeer Diamonds DMCC, United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Sun Star Travel & Tourism L.L.C., United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Sahara Petroleum PTE. LTD., Singapore

[[Page 12926]]

[ssquf] Precious Bullion DMCC, United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Rubini Investment Group Limited, British Virgin Islands/United 
Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Samaria Holdings Limited, United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Suzan General Trading JLT, United Arab Emirates
[ssquf] Manurama Limited, Kenya
[ssquf] Suzan General Trading (PVT) LTD, Zimbabwe
[ssquf] Skorus Investments (PVT) LTD, Zimbabwe
[ssquf] Sakhara Petroleum OSOO, Kyrgyzstan
[ssquf] Mirdk Fyuels OSOO, Kyrgyzstan
[ssquf] Royal Sona OSOO, Kyrgyzstan
[ssquf] Suprim Ef Iks OSOO, Kyrgyzstan

VISA Restrictions Imposed

    Persons designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 are subject to the entry 
restrictions articulated in section two, unless an exception applies. 
Section two provides that the entry of persons designated under section 
one of the order is suspended pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 
8693.
    In 2024, the Department took steps to impose visa restrictions, 
when appropriate, on foreign persons involved in certain human rights 
violations and significant corruption pursuant to other authorities, 
including Presidential Proclamation 7750 and Section 7031(c) of the 
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs 
Appropriations Act. The Department will continue to identify 
individuals subject to those authorities as appropriate, including but 
not limited to individuals designated under the Global Magnitsky 
program. In addition, the Department continues to implement all grounds 
of inadmissibility in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 
including INA section 212(a)(3)(C).

Coordinated Actions With Partners and Allies

    The United States recognizes that our sanctions are most impactful 
when implemented in coordination with our foreign partners. Since the 
issuance of E.O. 13818, the United States has encouraged likeminded 
partners to develop their own global human rights and anti-corruption 
sanctions programs. In 2024, the United States prioritized coordinated 
sanctions actions with partners and allies, including those with 
similar authorities, namely Australia, Canada, the European Union, and 
the United Kingdom. Additionally, the United States supported persons 
designated under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program for designation 
at the United Nations.

Canada

     On December 9, 2024, Canada sanctioned PRC officials Zhang 
Hongbo, Shohrat Zakir, Erken Tuniyaz, Chen Quanguo, and Huo Liujun for 
human rights abuses, including in Xinjiang and Tibet. These 
designations reinforced prior designations of these individuals by the 
United States in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
     On June 20, 2024, Canada sanctioned Haitian gang leader, 
Luckson Elan. Elan was subsequently designated by the United States on 
September 25, 2024.

United Kingdom

     On September 30, 2024, the UK sanctioned former member of 
Haiti's parliament, Prophane Victor, reinforcing the prior designation 
of Victor by the United States on September 25, 2024.
     On October 30, 2024, the UK sanctioned Haitian gang 
leader, Luckson Elan, reinforcing the prior designation of Elan by the 
United States on September 25, 2024.
     On December 9, 2024, the UK sanctioned Kenyan individual 
Kamlesh Pattni concurrently with the United States.
     On December 19, 2024, the UK sanctioned Georgian Minister 
of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri concurrently with the United 
States. Additionally, the UK sanctioned Georgian Special Task 
Department Chief Zviad Kharazishvili and Georgian Special Task 
Department Deputy Mileri Lagazauri, reinforcing the prior designations 
of Kharazishvili and Lagazauri by the United States on September 16, 
2024.

United Nations

     On September 25, 2024, concurrent with their designation 
under E.O. 13818, the United States co-sponsored the designation of 
former member of Haiti's parliament, Prophane Victor, and leader of the 
Gran Grif gang, Luckson Elan, for designation under the UN Haiti 
sanctions regime.

Andrew H. Self,
Senior Advisor, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2025-04530 Filed 3-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P