Biden Announces First Sanctions on Cuban Government Since Inauguration... "Will Continue to Impose Sanctions" (Comprehensive)

Magnitsky Act Applied...Sanctions on Cuban Defense Minister and Others
Remittance Policy and Internet Support for Cuban Residents Also Under Review

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. administration under Joe Biden has announced sanctions against the Cuban government for the first time since taking office. The Biden administration warned that it may continue to increase the level of sanctions, stating that the Cuban government's harsh crackdown on recent anti-government protests in Cuba constitutes human rights violations.

On the 22nd (local time), the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it would add Alvaro Lopez Miera, Cuba's Minister of Defense, and special forces under the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, known for suppressing the anti-government protests in Cuba, to the sanctions list. Notably, this sanction measure is reported to have been taken under the direct instruction of President Biden.

The U.S. Treasury stated that these sanctions are based on the "Global Magnitsky Act" enacted in 2016. This law was established after Russian human rights activist Sergei Magnitsky was arrested by Russian authorities in 2009 and died in prison after being beaten. It includes provisions to freeze the U.S. assets of individuals involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption, restrict visas, and prohibit transactions with U.S. companies.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

President Biden also emphasized in a statement on the same day, "These sanctions are only the beginning, and we will continue to sanction those responsible for oppressing the Cuban people," adding, "We condemn the sham trials and mass detentions that unjustly imprisoned those who raised their voices amid threats to silence the Cuban people." He also stated, "We are reviewing remittance policies to support the Cuban people."

Regarding the Cuban government's disconnection of internet access, including social networking services (SNS), to disrupt the cohesion of protesters, President Biden stressed, "We are cooperating with civil society organizations and the private sector to bypass Cuban government censorship and ensure Cuban citizens' right to internet access."

Since large-scale nationwide anti-government protests erupted in Cuba on the 11th, more than 500 protesters, including civil society activists, have reportedly been arrested by Cuban authorities' harsh crackdown.