Overview
In June 2020, the US passed the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act 2020 which authorises the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons responsible for hostage-taking or wrongful detention of US nationals abroad or knowingly providing support for such activities.
In July 2022, the US President signed EO 14078 “Bolstering Efforts To Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home” which authorises the US Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on those found to be responsible for / complicit in the hostage-taking of a US national or their wrongful detention abroad. Those determined to have assisted / supported these actions and leaders / officials of entities linked to hostage-taking may also be designated.
Current US Sanctions
- Legislation
Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-taking Accountability Act, Public Law 116–260
88 FR 44052-23 – Hostages and Wrongful Detention Sanctions Regulations
- Sanctions List
Search “HOSTAGES-EO14078” on the OFAC SDN List
- Guidance
