Backgrounder: Sanctions in response to long-standing human rights violations in Russia, Iran and Myanmar

Effective immediately, Canada is imposing sanctions against seven individuals who are responsible for, or complicit in, various human rights violations in Russia, Iran and Myanmar.

Canadian measures

The Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act provides for the taking of restrictive measures in respect of well-documented cases where foreign nationals are responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

The specific prohibitions are set out in the regulations.

The names of the Russian nationals who are responsible for, or complicit in, various human rights violations related to the LGBTQI+ purge in Chechnya who are added to the schedule of these regulations are the following:

1. Magomed Khozhakhmedovich Daudov
2. Apti Aronovich Alaudinov
3. Ayub Vakhaevich Kataev
4. Abuzayed Dzhandarovich Vismuradov

The names of the Iranian nationals who are responsible for, or complicit in the torture and killing of Iranian-Canadian photo-journalist Zahra Kazemi in Iran and who are added to the schedule of these regulations are the following:

1. Saeed Mortazavi
2. Mohammad Bakhshi

The name of the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar armed forces and leader of the 2021 military coup d’état responsible for attacks against pro-democracy supporters and civilians in Myanmar and who is added to the schedule of these regulations is the following:

1. Min Aung Hlaing