On April 16–17, 2026, the U.S. Conference on Global Sanctions and Export Controls took place in Washington, D.C. The event was organized by the Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists (ACSS). NAKO Executive Director Olena Tregub took part in the conference.
Sanctions and compliance experts, business representatives, financial institutions, and government officials discussed the legal frameworks and practical cases of sanctions policy — ranging from countering transnational organized crime to China’s role in sanctions evasion.
“Previously, these professionals dealt with the criminal underworld and focused on preventing illicit procurement. Today, this field has become geopolitical — about national security and high politics,” Olena Tregub noted.
At the conference, the NAKO Executive Director moderated a roundtable on export controls for dual-use and defence-related goods. The discussion focused on detecting and preventing violations through strengthened cooperation with governments and manufacturers.
Tregub also spoke on the panel discussion “China: Navigating the New Axis of Compliance.” Participants focused on mechanisms through which China facilitates sanctions evasion by Russia, Iran, and North Korea, including direct sales of dual-use goods and transit routes through Chinese territory. Tregub presented preliminary findings from NAKO’s analysis of Chinese shell companies involved in supplying goods to the Russian military-industrial complex.
In addition, she shared a case involving an Instagram model whose company allegedly procured British military equipment for Russia. In this context, Tregub highlighted the growing involvement of young individuals in sanctions evasion schemes. “In the future, those who enable terrorist regimes, including the Russian Federation, will not necessarily be driven by ideology, but simply by profit. This is a growing global trend. We must be very cautious, as social media is increasingly used as a recruitment tool for such actors,” she warned.
We thank the International Renaissance Foundation for supporting sanctions advocacy efforts.