United States Ramps up Sanctions Against Rogue Russia for it Atrocities

PRESS RELEASES

U.S. Treasury Escalates Sanctions on Russia for Its Atrocities in Ukraine

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April 6, 2022

Treasury Targets Critical Arteries of the Russian Federation Economy, Fully Blocking Largest Public and Private Banks

New Sanctions Imposed on Putin’s Family and Architects of War

President’s New Executive Order To Ban New Investment in Russia

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took major steps to degrade the economy of the Russian Federation in response to Russia’s continued brutal war against Ukraine and atrocities against Ukrainian citizens. Treasury is imposing full blocking sanctions on Sberbank, Russia’s largest state-owned bank, and Alfa-Bank, Russia’s largest private bank. Treasury is also targeting family members of President Vladimir Putin (Putin) and Foreign Minster Sergey Lavrov (Lavrov), as well as Russian Security Council members who are complicit in the war against Ukraine. In addition, the President is issuing a new Executive Order today, which bans new investment in the Russian Federation and the provision of certain services to any person located in the Russian Federation by U.S. persons, wherever located.

“Russia’s military forces have committed heinous atrocities in Ukraine and the global community must hold them to account,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Today we are taking additional steps to cut off Russia from international markets in response to Putin’s continued brutality. This serious action, including fully blocking Russia’s largest bank and banning new investment in Russia, will further restrict Putin’s ability to fund and supply his war.”

Today’s designations are taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, which authorizes sanctions against Russia for its harmful foreign activities, including violating core principles of international law, such as respect for the territorial integrity of other states. OFAC’s actions complement the ongoing efforts of international allies and partners to hold accountable all those responsible for furthering this unconscionable war of choice against Ukraine and its people.

SBERBANK AND 42 SBERBANK SUBSIDIARIES

Today, Treasury is fully blocking Public Joint Stock Company Sberbank of Russia (Sberbank), which is uniquely important to the Russian Federation economy, holding about a third of all bank assets in Russia. Sberbank is the largest financial institution in Russia and is majority-owned by the Government of the Russian Federation (GoR). It holds the largest market share of savings deposits in the country, is the main creditor of the Russian economy, and is deemed by the GoR to be a systemically important financial institution. On February 24, 2022, OFAC identified Sberbank as subject to prohibitions pursuant to Directive 2 under E.O. 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (the “Russia-related CAPTA Directive”) and the Russia-related Entities Directive for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy, thereby expanding the sanctions that were imposed on Sberbank pursuant to E.O. 13662 in September 2014. Today, OFAC is expanding previous sanctions by designating Sberbank pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy.

In addition, pursuant to E.O. 14024, Treasury is designating the following 42 Sberbank subsidiaries for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Sberbank, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

  1. Subsidiary Bank Sberbank of Russia Joint Stock Company is a bank located in Kazakhstan.
  2. Joint Stock Company Sberbank is a bank located in Ukraine.
  3. Open Joint Stock Company BPS-Sberbank is a bank located Belarus.
  4. Auction Limited Liability Company is an entity engaged in financial transactions in Russia.
  5. IKS Joint Stock Company is a real estate, security brokering, fund management, depository credit intermediation, as well as other activities auxiliary to financial intermediation, company located in Russia.
  6. Joint Stock Company Sberbank Leasing is a bank located in Russia.
  7. Sovremennye Tekhnologii Limited Liability Company is entity engaged in real estate activities in Russia.
  8. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Capital is a mutual and pension fund or trust located in Russia.
  9. Joint Stock Company Sberbank Automated Trade System is a vendor of financial securities on electronic trading platforms located in Russia.
  10. Limited Liability Company Promising Investments is a financial company located in Russia.
  11. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Financial Company is a financial company located in Russia.
  12. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Investments is a financial company located in Russia.
  13. Joint Stock Company Sberbank Technologies is an entity engaged in system integration, automation, business processes, and information technology consulting in Russia.
  14. Joint Stock Company Loyalty Programs Center is an entity engaged in loyalty program administration for Sberbank in Russia.
  15. Sberbank Europe AG is a bank located in Austria.
  16. Insurance Company Sberbank Life Insurance Limited Liability Company is an insurance company located in Russia.
  17. Joint Stock Company Business Environment is an entity engaged in data processing, hosting, and related activities in Russia.
  18. SB Securities SA is a mutual and pension fund or trust located in Luxembourg.
  19. Limited Liability Company Active Business Consult is a debt recovery agency providing collection and adjustment services in Russia.
  20. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Service is an entity engaged in the provision of computer and office machine repair and maintenance services in Russia.
  21. Joint Stock Company Sberbank Private Pension Fund is a mutual and pension fund or trust located in Russia.
  22. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Insurance Broker is a financial and insurance company located in Russia.
  23. Insurance Company Sberbank Insurance Limited Liability Company is an insurance company located in Russia.
  24. Limited Liability Company Korus Consulting CIS is an entity engaged in information technology consulting services in Russia.
  25. Limited Liability Company Sberbank CIB Holding is a financial company located in Russia.
  26. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Factoring is a financial company located in Russia.
  27. Limited Liability Company Rutarget is a web-based automated advertising software developer in Russia.
  28. Limited Liability Company Sberbank Real Estate Center is an entity engaged in software development for Sberbank’s real estate and mortgage services in Russia.
  29. Limited Liability Company Digital Technologies is a provider of business management services in Russia.
  30. Joint Stock Company Raschetniye Resheniya is a bank located in Russia.
  31. Vydayushchiesya Kredity Microcredit Company Limited Liability Company is a financial and insurance company in Russia.
  32. Tekhnologii Kreditovaniya Limited Liability Company is an Internet-based financial activities company located in Russia.
  33. Sber Legal Limited Liability Company is an entity engaged in provision of legal services in Russia.
  34. Arimero Holding Limited is a financial, insurance, and holding company located in Cyprus.
  35. Barus Limited Liability Company is an entity engaged in real estate activities in Russia.
  36. Setelem Bank Limited Liability Company is a bank located in Russia.
  37. Joint Stock Company Strategy Partners Group is an entity engaged in management and financial consulting services in Russia.
  38. Sber Vostok Limited Liability Partnership is an entity engaged in retail and wholesale trade in Kazakhstan.
  39. Limited Liability Company Yoomoney is a bank located in Russia.
  40. Bankruptcy Technology Center Limited Liability Company is an entity engaged in information technology-related activities in Russia.
  41. Limited Liability Company Market Fund Administration is a mutual and pension fund or trust located in Russia.
  42. Joint Stock Company United Credit Bureau is a credit history bureau operating in Russia.

All entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Sberbank are blocked under E.O. 14024, even if not designated by OFAC.

JOINT STOCK COMPANY ALFA-BANK, SIX SUBSIDIARIES, AND FIVE VESSELS

OFAC is imposing full blocking restrictions on Joint Stock Company Alfa-Bank (Alfa-Bank), Russia’s largest privately owned financial institution and Russia’s fourth-largest financial institution overall. On February 24, 2022, OFAC identified Alfa-Bank as subject to prohibitions pursuant to Directive 3 under E.O. 14024, “Prohibitions Related to New Debt and Equity of Certain Russia-related Entities” (the “Russia-related Entities Directive”) for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy. Today, OFAC is expanding previous sanctions by designating Alfa-Bank pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy.

In addition, OFAC is designating six Alfa-Bank subsidiaries pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Alfa-Bank. These subsidiaries provide a variety of financial services:

  • Alfa Capital Markets LTD (Cyprus)
  • Alfa-Direct (Russia)
  • Alfa-Forex LLC (Russia)
  • Alfa-Lizing OOO (Russia)
  • Amsterdam Trade Bank NV (the Netherlands)
  • Subsidiary Bank Alfa-Bank JSC (Kazakhstan)

OFAC is also identifying five vessels owned by Alfa-Lizing OOO as blocked property: products tanker Lady Leila (IMO 9683740), chemical/oil tanker Lady Rania (IMO 9784893), products tanker Lady Sevda (IMO 9683738), general cargo vessel Sv Konstantin (IMO 9203710), and general cargo vessel Sv Nikolay (IMO 9482926).

All entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Alfa-Bank are subject to blocking under E.O. 14024, even if not designated by OFAC.

Joint Stock Company Alfa-Bank is a distinct entity from Alfa-Bank (Ukraine), which has not been sanctioned.

FAMILY SUPPORTING THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER

Katerina Vladimirovna Tikhonova (Tikhonova) and Maria Vladimirovna Vorontsova (Vorontsova) are daughters of Russian President Putin. Tikhonova is a tech executive whose work supports the GoR and defense industry. Vorontsova leads state-funded programs that have received billions of dollars from the Kremlin toward genetics research and are personally overseen by Putin. Tikhonova and Vorontsova are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the adult children of Putin, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

Maria Aleksandrovna Lavrova (Lavrova) is Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s (Lavrov) wife. Yekaterina Sergeyevna Vinokurova (Vinokurova) is Lavrov’s daughter. Lavrova and Vinokurova are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the spouse or adult child of Lavrov, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.


RUSSIAN SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PUTIN FACILITATORS

The Security Council of the Russian Federation, chaired by President Putin and composed of members he appoints, is a key national security body in Russia that determines and executes Russia’s foreign policy, including its unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine. Pursuant to E.O. 14024, the United States has sanctioned a number of members of Russia’s Security Council since Russia began its further invasion of Ukraine in late February, including Putin, Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov, Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology, and Transport Sergei Ivanov, Federation Council secretary Nikolai Patrushev, National Guard commander-in-chief Viktor Zolotov, and State Duma deputy Vyacheslav Volodin, all for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of the GoR.

Today, OFAC is designating the remaining members of Russia’s Security Council, including former President and Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev. Many of these individuals have also been sanctioned by our international partners, including Canada, the European Union (EU), Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom (UK). Each of these following individuals is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the GoR.

Aleksandr Dmitrievich Beglov (Beglov) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and Governor of Saint Petersburg. Beglov’s gubernatorial election was marred by accusations of voter fraud and intimidation, and he is known to have ties to sanctioned Russian elites Yevgeniy Prigozhin and Yuri Kovalchuk. Beglov has also been sanctioned by Canada and the UK.

Vladimir Ivanovich Bulavin (Bulavin) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and head of the Russia’s Federal Customs Service. A veteran of the Soviet-era Committee for State Security, Bulavin was previously Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Bulavin has also been sanctioned by Canada and the UK.

Yuriy Yakovlevich Chayka (Yuriy Chayka) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District. His sanctioned son Artem Yuryevich Chayka has leveraged his father’s positions to unfairly win contracts and put pressure on business competitors. Yuriy Chayka has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

Konstantin Anatolyevich Chuychenko (Chuychenko) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and Russia’s Minister of Justice. Chuychenko, a close friend of Dmitry Anatolievich Medvedev, was previously a Deputy Prime Minister and the Head of Staff of the GoR. Chuychenko has also been sanctioned by Canada.

Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gutsan (Gutsan) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Northwestern Federal District. Gutsan has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

Vladimir Alexandrovich Kolokoltsev (Kolokoltsev) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and Russia’s Minister of Internal Affairs. Kolokoltsev was previously designated by OFAC on April 6, 2018 pursuant to E.O. 13661 for being an official of the GoR. Kolokoltsev has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK.

Igor Anatolyevich Komarov (Komarov) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Volga Federal District. Komarov has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

Igor Victorovich Krasnov (Krasnov) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and Russia’s Prosecutor General. Krasnov was previously designated by OFAC on March 2, 2021 pursuant to E.O. 13661 for being an official of the GoR. Krasnov has also been sanctioned by Canada, the EU, Japan, and the UK.

Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko (Matviyenko) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and the Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Matviyenko previously served as Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister. Matviyenko was previously designated pursuant to E.O. 13661. Matviyenko was previously designated pursuant to E.O. 13661. Matviyenko has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK.

Dmitry Anatolievich Medvedev (Medvedev) is Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. Medvedev previously served as both President and Prime Minister of Russia. Medvedev is also the chairman of the ruling United Russia party and was formerly the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom. Medvedev has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK.

Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin (Mishustin) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. Mishustin previously served as chief of Russia’s Federal Tax Service. Mishustin has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the EU, New Zealand, and the UK.

Sergey Yevgenyevich Naryshkin (Naryshkin) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and the Director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). Naryshkin was previously designated by OFAC pursuant to E.O. 13661 for being an official of the GoR. Naryshkin has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK.

Rashid Gumarovich Nurgaliev (Nurgaliev) is the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council. Nurgaliev has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the EU, and the UK.

Anatoliy Anatolievich Seryshev (Seryshev) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District. In his prior role as the head of the Karelian branch of the FSB, Seryshev took part in the reportedly politically-motivated persecution of Yuri Dmitriev, a prominent local human rights activist and historian of Stalin-era terror. Seryshev has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

Igor Olegovich Shchegolev (Shchegolev) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Central Federal District. He previously served as Russia’s Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications. Shchegolev was previously designated on July 16, 2014, pursuant to E.O. 13661 for being an official of the GoR. Shchegolev has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK.

Anton Germanovich Siluanov (Siluanov) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and Russia’s Finance Minister, a position he served in previously from 2011 to 2018. Siluanov has also been sanctioned by Canada.

Sergey Semyonovich Sobyanin (Sobyanin) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and the mayor of Moscow. Sobyanin has also been sanctioned by Canada and the UK.

Yuriy Petrovich Trutnev (Trutnev) is a member of Russia’s Security Council, Deputy Prime Minister, and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District. Trutnev has also been sanctioned by Canada and the UK.

Vladimir Vasilyevich Ustinov (Ustinov) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Southern Federal District. Ustinov previously served as Russia’s Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General. Ustinov was previously designated on April 5, 2018, pursuant to E.O. 13662 for being an official of the GoR. Ustinov has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, and the UK.

Anton Eduardovich Vaino (Vaino) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office. Vaino has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the EU, New Zealand, and the UK.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Yakushev (Yakushev) is a member of Russia’s Security Council and the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Urals Federal District. Yakushev has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the persons above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.  

IMPLEMENTING EXPANSIVE NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER

Today President Biden is issuing E.O. of April 6, 2022, “Prohibiting New Investment in and Certain Services to the Russian Federation in Response to Continued Russian Federation Aggression,” to ban all new investment in the Russian Federation by U.S. persons, wherever located, as well as the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of any category of services as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to any person located in the Russian Federation. These prohibitions follow recently issued Executive Orders 14066 and 14068, which prohibit certain imports and exports involving Russia, and are consistent with commitments made by the G7 leaders to ensure that our citizens are not underwriting Putin’s war.

For more information on the individuals, entities, and vessels designated today, click here.

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“Travels to a Different Time” : 27May1975: Vienna, Austria: The Germans Are Becoming a Nuisance!

Need I describe Viennese weather anymore? I roused my low moraled body up and had an edible breakfast. I planned to have a shower but the facilities were full of Germans. I postponed my shower until after dinner. Germans in my age bracket are so easy to get along with. The elderly seem cranky and unfriendly. Perhaps they have bad war memories? It is the 30–50-year-old bracket in tourist destinations who tend to be loud, brash and swaggering and it gets worse when they drink. I speak in generalities. Austrians are more reserved than Germans. I had a long walk in the woods and was home at 16:00 for a glorious hot shower that perked up my morale. I had supper at 17:30 and after a couple of hours of listening to the sounds of the campground I drifted off to sleep. I am Budapest bound tomorrow!

RKS Film: “Donbass”: Mockumentary? Black Comedy? Absurdity? Chilling?

Sergey Loznitsa’s “Donbass” from 2018 is certainly not dated. Considering the Russian rampage in the Ukraine it is chillingly relevant.

A dozen or so vignettes explain what life is like in the Eastern Ukraine where Russian separatists attempt to steal the Donbass for Holy Mother Russia.

It is difficult to categorize the film into a neat package. It is a lesson in absurdity, colonialism and very dark humour. One gets a very Monty Python and Kafka feeling which is more chilling as the Russian backed separatists seem to believe the nonsense from a script that must have been written in The Russian Ministry of Propaganada.

The film starts off with how Russian propaganda is staged portraying Ukrainian fighters as monsters but the whole story is brought to the screen by actors. Poor actors not getting paid! And they are executed after their job is done.

The Russians then come to a maternity hospital and explain to the staff how corrupt the hospital director is stealing food, medicine and surgical instruments! The whole visit is a sham designed to show how magnificent the Russians are in stocking the hospital fridges with sausages, meat, Snicker’s Bars and medicine. The scene with the Russian militia drinking pickle juice is a new modern classic.

Another new classic scene would have to be the Russians boarding a bus for a security check but t is more a question of trying to get some lard for their soup.

There are rants of Russians at a checkpoint about how they are cleaning up the area of fascists. The poor German news team getting lambasted by a Russian officer for being fascists. We cleaned you guys up in WW2 and we are going to clean out the Donbass of fascists.

A suspected Ukrainian “exterminator” is humiliated publicly in the streets. It is a revolting scene showing the pack animal frenzy of the Russians. The same riff raff then are at a wedding ceremony full of patriotic Russian songs with some of the abusers of the exterminator attending the riotous wedding ceremony.

There are also scenes of violence and death.

I won’t go into the entire set of vignettes but if you have somewhat of a sardonic smile on your face the vicious and brutal ending of the film will leave you shocked. But of course, with what happened in Bucha and goodness knows where else lately perhaps that is Russian brutality as the new normal facing innocent civilians. At least they stocked the maternity hospital with sausages and didn’t shell it…..yet.

A few of the vignettes may leave you scratching your head but perhaps for a Ukrainian they mean something significant.

You can purchase tickets here https://hotdocs.ca/whats-on/films/donbass. In theatre showings in Toronto will be April 22/23/24/25.

You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udvEwh54BbM

“Travels to a Different Time” :25May1975: Vienna, Austria: Climbing the Muddy Hills with Carmen

Cold and rainy again. How super depressing. I feel like just heading south to Greece or Yugoslavia and drying out but I have a mission to complete my travels to Eastern Europe. I cooked up some breakfast and crawled back into my sleeping bag to keep warm. Carmen, the American girl from New Jersey stopped by at 15:30 and we did some hiking in the area. The rain had turned the paths into mud. We returned at 18:00 and shared a supper. Out to the local bar for a couple of beers and back home at 11. Why is this campground packed with Aussies?

26May1975: Vienna, Austria: More Wet Weather: Gotta Get Out of Here

The week begins with more wet weather. I gotta get outta here but I need an extra day with some sun to wash some clothes and my towel is sopping wet and needs to dry out. Bloody weather! I took the 49 into town and wandered around until 15:30 soaking up the imperial grandeur of the city. On the way back to the campground I stopped at Brüder Kunz to pick up some food for dinner. Read until 20:30 then off to bed. How exciting eh?

“Travels to a Different Time” : 23May1975: Vienna, Austria: I Curse the Rain

It was raining lightly when I awoke at 08:00. I cursed the rain all the more as I had to go out in it to collect my visa and hopefully my passport. Hopped on the 49 tram into town and picked up my visa and passport at the Hungarian Embassy. I wrote a letter and in my travel diary. I hit the side streets and ended up in the textile district where I made a big purchase of shoelaces. I bought some food before heading home on the 49. I went into a bakery for some bread, cheese and a pastry. I asked the elderly owner in German if she had bread and cheese and she responded with a volley of chatter most of which I didn’t understand! I had a feast upon my return in the dining room of the campsite. Well in Montreal I would hardly call my dinner a feast. I had a brief chat with some Australians and a Norwegian. At 7:30 I went to my tent and read by candlelight. I planned my route out of Vienna for Budapest. Auto-Stop here I come.

24May1975: Vienna, Austria: Out Drinking Beer with Carmen

Up and off to the store to buy some food. The stores close at noon on Saturday. Scrambled eggs for breakfast with bread. I then headed up the hill and then another path in the woods with a spectacular view of Vienna below. I just lay in the grass for awhile and took in the view. A good dinner and as I finished an American girl Carmen came up to me and asked if I wanted to buy some tram tickets as she had too many. I bought 5 from her and then we played some Frisbee. We were joined by a Yank and an Aussie. Carmen and I went out for a beer but it closed at 11 which is odd for a Saturday night. The next place had a Bavarian band with people whirling around dancing. It closed at midnight so we headed home and it began to rain. Shit!

RKS Film: “Blue Queen”: No Such Thing as an Honest Gangster!

The Hellenic Film Society USA continues its “Greek Films on Demand” which runs from the first to the tenth day of each month. Two Greek films are available for viewing at a nominal charge.

One of April’s films is “Blue Queen”. In crime films you have probably encountered the double cross. Well in “Blue Queen” be prepared for multiple quadruple crosses.

A gang in Athens commits a violent heist of the Blue Queen diamond. Harris the son of mob boss is ready to hand off the diamond but is gunned down. The question of course who did the dastardly deed. We are presented with 4 different stories from those involved in the heist. It is only after the fourth story that the entire story makes sense. A real jigsaw puzzle and a very taut thriller directed by Alex Sipsidis. A brilliant concept and very polished results.

I can’t tell you the different stories or the film would be ruined and that’s the last thing you want in a jigsaw puzzle. In this nonlinear movie pay close attention and don’t get too frustrated as the 4 stories gel into one coherent story.

What is apparent is you can’t trust any of these characters farther than you can throw them. They are backstabbing, deceitful and very dangerous. The body count begins to soar. You can’t even trust the police in this film. You will experience a jaw dropping conclusion which has a slight comedic twist to it. You will never guess who walks away with the blood-soaked Blue Queen.

These characters are all snakes and they play the part so well. They are certainly not what they appear to be.

I’d love to tell you the story but I can’t  give you too many hints. I will stop here and say if you are looking for a victim here just about all the characters are victims. Enough said!

To order a ticket for your virtual screening go to www.hellenicfilmsusa.org

To see the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT5lZU_xb_Q&t=4s

RKS Film Rating 93/100.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 21May1975: Vienna, Austria: Camping in Suburbia: Austria The Land of Hot Showers and Good Milk!

The flight was smooth and we stopped in Shannon Ireland to refuel. There were some beautiful wool sweaters but I simply can’t lug any more clothes around! We landed around noon and tourist information said all youth hostels were full. So I ended up camping in a beautiful suburb about 5 kms from the city centre. Being afflicted by jet lag I went to a nearby store for bread and cheese. It doesn’t take long to acustomize yourself to this low budget meal. I had a hot shower. Yes this is Austria the land of hot showers and good milk! I sat in the afternoon sun and ate my early supper and crashed out in my tent and slept for 12 hours.

22May1975: Vienna, Austria: The Hungarians Have My Passport!

Up to a sunny day and yes more bread and cheese! Took the 49 tram into the city and I went to the Hungarian embassy and completed my application for my visa. But I had to leave my passport behind for a day which makes me uneasy. Like East Berlin you must exchange money in advance based on so many dollars a day. You get a voucher for the amount which you must go to a bank in Hungary to get Hungarian currency. What bureaucracy! My German is basic and their English was worse.

What an incredibly beautiful city and as it was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that’s to be expected. It started to rain and I was pinned down but it stopped and I headed back to my suburban palace. Had dinner and baby it just poured, it poured. Thank goodness for my new tent!

RKS Film: “See You Again”: Possibly the Best and Most Honest LGBTQ Ever Made?

I have been reviewing LGBTQ films for a few years now. Lynch me if you wish but my take of this “film genre” is there is a divide between depicting the LGBTQ community as LGBTQ human beings as opposed to LGBTQ human beings being LGBTQ. If we are looking for true diversity and inclusion do we include members of the LGBTQ community as fellow human beings or some exotic subspecies?

“See You Again” treats the LGBTQ community as human beings and it may be the best LGTBQ film made to date…a “Gone with The Wind” LGBTQ film?

The promotional material sent my way was greeted by a yawn. A romantic relationship between Kris (Pooya Mohseni) and Naomi (Lynn Chen) in college spinning off where Chris decided for reasons of survival to go trans. Chris becomes a trans Kris.

14 years later Kris and Naomi decide to reconnect. Kris apologizes for leaving Naomi in the lurch when he decided to go trans. It is all polite and awkward and we hear the torment Kris has endured in his quest to become her. Naomi with her husband and children may seem to have the ideal life but not so.

So it seems that Naomi is wounded by the sudden departure of her college lover Kris and it is a polite apology and mutual understanding of divergent paths.

But with too much bourbon and honesty the complex relationship between Kris and Naomi unravels into a vicious fight so nasty and personal it is a cinematic moment of brilliance. It is cutting and savage. Naomi is devastated by Chris abruptly leaving her unable to understand why Chris left without a word.

The politeness evaporates quickly and a nasty and vicious exchange occurs between Kris and Naomi with a bombshell revelation made by Naomi that has devastated her and will do the same to Kris. It will devastate and upend you as a viewer.

Chen is captivating and brilliant.

Deep inter-personal dialogue is convincing and relevant.

And the concluding scene reveals a bombshell shattering for both Kris and Naomi. Oh the hurt romantic relationships can afflict!

A very honest and challenging LGBTQ film if you like but for me an honest and revealing relationship between two human beings.

The film opened up in select theatres on April 1st and will be available through VOD and DVD on April 19th.

You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftJBPolTd30

Directed by Mari Walker.

RKS Film Rating 87/100.

RKS Wine:  Cline Viognier North Coast California

My first choice for Viognier would be France but California produces a fair bit of it. Let’s try a Cline 2020 North Coast Viognier.

It has a light cold colour. As for aromatics it is not exactly an effusive Viognier. The first take is a wine that has some cinnamon, eucalyptus, butterscotch and pineapple. There is the honey, apricot and peach one comes to expect from a Viognier but it is lurking in the background like some nervous understudy. On the palate one senses a tightness of a cloistered wine. There is some pineapple, ginger, guava and a gentle undercurrent of early season peaches with a bit too much heat not surprising considering its 14.5% alcohol. Not much of a follow through. An OK Viognier for a summer picnic with cheese please! Easy summer drinking with lighter foods. I can’t see this handling lobster, shrimp or crab a favourite hunting ground for Viognier.

No oak thank goodness. Drink by the end of 2022. As summer is approaching and hopefully no more lockdowns if you are thinking of barbeque chicken marinated in Pirri Pirri sauce that might work. As for seafood why not roasted halibut with bacon, peas and tarragon sauce?

This is one of those whites that will improve with decanting and not served overly chilled.

A top end US supermarket wine. I can’t resist mentioning when I was last in Chicago old geezer that I am I was asked for identification at a supermarket if I was over 21!

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RKS Wine:  Cline Viognier North Coast California

My first choice for Viognier would be France but California produces a fair bit of it. Let’s try a Cline 2020 North Coast Viognier.

It has a light cold colour. As for aromatics it is not exactly an effusive Viognier. The first take is a wine that has some cinnamon, eucalyptus, butterscotch and pineapple. There is the honey, apricot and peach one comes to expect from a Viognier but it is lurking in the background like some nervous understudy. On the palate one senses a tightness of a cloistered wine. There is some pineapple, ginger, guava and a gentle undercurrent of early season peaches with a bit too much heat not surprising considering its 14.5% alcohol. Not much of a follow through. An OK Viognier for a summer picnic with cheese please! Easy summer drinking with lighter foods. I can’t see this handling lobster, shrimp or crab a favourite hunting ground for Viognier.

No oak thank goodness. Drink by the end of 2022. As summer is approaching and hopefully no more lockdowns if you are thinking of barbeque chicken marinated in Pirri Pirri sauce that might work. As for seafood why not roasted halibut with bacon, peas and tarragon sauce?

This is one of those whites that will improve with decanting and not served overly chilled.

A top end US supermarket wine. I can’t resist mentionong when I was last in Chicago old geezer that I am I was asked for identification at a supermarket if I was over 21!

(Cline 2020 North Coast Viognier, Cline Cellars, Sonoma, California, $17.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 128421, 750 mL, 14.5%, RKS Wine Rating 88/100).

“Travels to a Different Time” : 20May1975: First Haircut in 3 Years Ends My Gypsy Frightening Potential

Instead of the midnight bus to New York from Montreal it will be the midnight DC-10 from New York to Vienna. To avoid being set up for narcotic smuggling and to prevent gypsies from running away from me in terror I went for my first haircut in 3 years. It was not the traumatic experience I expected it to be. Actually it looked pretty good. It was $12 and I gave the ”stylist” Adrienne a $2 tip. I met Barb’s current beau Jeff at a bar called Hannibal’s and had a couple of beers and a bowl of chili. Then to McDarby’s for another round. Headed back to the apartment for a quick shower and a final pack. Mom phoned and said Barb was waiting for me at the American Airlines Terminal at Kennedy airport but was too tired and was heading home. I grabbed a taxi to Port Authority and got the bus to Kennedy. After several tries to get through the metal detector, I made it and boarded the plane. We taxied around for an hour before rumbling down the airport tarmac to Vienna. Sehr Gut!