The Council of Europe (COE) continues its involvement in the Russian aggression against Ukraine.[1]  Recently, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted two sets of resolutions and recommendations. Each of them is accompanied by and based on a committee report  addressing various aspects of the invasion. The resolutions and recommendations were adopted on April 28, 2022.

On May 4, the British Virgin Islands (Commercial Division), which is part of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, issued a worldwide freezing order against persons unknown in relation to crypto fraud.  The decision emulates similar decisions in the UK and other commonwealth countries where courts commonly grant such relief.[1]

Global Witness issued a report on April 26, 2022, detailing possible violations of the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI).   ITSCI is a due diligence scheme that covers “3T minerals” (tantalum, tin, and tungsten) mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries.  Its purpose is to monitor the sourcing of minerals in these countries, and to prevent “conflict minerals” from entering the secure supply chain.  According to the Global Witness report, conflict minerals are being laundered through ITSCI approved mines and traders operating in the African Great Lakes Region of the DRC and Rwanda.

Efforts to implement sanctions against Russian oligarchs is progressing, as shown by an announcement on May 6 that Italy has seized a $700 million mega yacht linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and on May 5 that Fiji has seized a $300 million yacht of sanctioned Russian oligarch Seleiman Kerimov at the request of the U.S.

On May 6, 2022, Jamaican authorities extradited Joseph Joel John to the United States to face criminal charges in the U.S.  John, 51, made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis in Miami.[1]

On April 28, 2022, Ukrainian authorities brought criminal charges against ten Russian soldiers, who Ukraine accuses of taking civilians hostage and mistreating them in Bucha.  This is the first criminal charges brought with respect to the conflict.[1]  On April 25, the International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan WC announced his office has become a participant in the joint investigation team on alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine, joining existing members Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.[2]

On April 29, 2022, U.S. law enforcement authorities arrested British Virgin Islands (BVI) Premier Andrew Alturo Fashie, Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Oleavine Pickering Maynard (O. Maynard), and the Port Director’s son, Kadeem Stephan Maynard (K. Maynard) on criminal charges in the United States District Court in Miami of cocaine trafficking and money laundering conspiracies.  They allegedly agreed to facilitate the safe passage through BVI port of tons of Colombian cocaine headed to Miami.  In exchange for their facilitation work, the defendants would make millions, which would be sent through different businesses and bank accounts to hide the source of the money.[1]

On April 22, 2022, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) made his appearance at his first virtual court hearing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.  He is being charged with three counts: 1) conspiring to import cocaine into the United States which carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison; 2) using and carrying machine guns and destructive devices during, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the cocaine importation conspiracy, which carries a sentence of 30 years to life in prison; and 3) conspiring to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices during, and to possess machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the cocaine importation conspiracy, which carries a maximum life sentence.  If former President Hernandez is convicted, sentencing will ultimately be determined by a U.S. district court judge considering U.S. Sentencing guidelines and other factors.[1]

On April 21, 2022, the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted a resolution to suspend Russia as a permanent observer until it withdraws its military forces from Ukraine.  Twenty-five countries voted in favor, zero against, eight abstained, one country was absent, and none voted against. 

On April 20, 2022, United States District Judge Brian S. Miller sentenced Andrew Scott Pierson, 49, of Jay, Oklahoma, to 12 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to traffic firearms to Mexican cartels.[1]