Brian O'Toole (@brianoftoole) header
Brian O'Toole (@brianoftoole) profile picture

Brian O'Toole

@brianoftoole

Nonresident senior fellow at @atlanticcouncil; former Treasury/OFAC and IC. Opinions my own.

Joined January 2017
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Brian O'Toole retweeted
Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) profile picture
Mark Dubowitz
@mdubowitzOct 19
Putin is pure evil.
Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) profile pictureVisegrád 24
@visegrad24Oct 19
BREAKING: Russian Shahed-style drone has struck a cafe in a park near Kharkiv. 14-month-old Angelina was killed in her stroller. Her mother Inna was also killed along with another 11-year-old girl
Image from Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24)
Image from Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24)
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A remarkable read. Stop what you’re doing and take it in. thefp.com/p/freedom-fighting…
In Venezuela, Fighting for Freedom ‘Until the End’

In Venezuela, Fighting for Freedom ‘Until the End’

Across the country, the people are rising up over a contested election—and tearing down statues of Chávez.

thefp.com
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Brian O'Toole retweeted
max seddon (@maxseddon) profile picture
max seddon
@maxseddon29 Mar 2024
A blank space on today’s WSJ A1 where Evan Gershkovich’s reporting should be, one year after his arrest on patently false charges. Russia should free him now
Image from max seddon (@maxseddon)
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Been waiting a while for this to land on my stoop from @SalehaMohsin. Can’t wait to dive in!
Image from Brian O'Toole (@brianoftoole)
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Big numbers but not big impact on the 2nd anniversary of Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine. Russia can easily replace these targets and the US will then have to find those new names to sanction, a game of whack a mole that is hard to win. reuters.com/world/biden-anno….
US targets Russia with hundreds of sanctions over Ukraine war, Navalny death

US targets Russia with hundreds of sanctions over Ukraine war, Navalny death

The United States on Friday imposed extensive sanctions against Russia, targeting more than 500 people and entities to mark the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and retaliate for...

reuters.com
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I had expected more third country targets that are less fungible and would have had greater deterrent effect. This is more of the same approach, rather than any new ground in sanctions on Russia.
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Brian O'Toole retweeted
Daniel Fried (@AmbDanFried) profile picture
Daniel Fried
@AmbDanFried23 Feb 2024
Big Russia sanctions list out. Broad but not as impactful as run-up rhetoric suggested. Lots of Russian companies in lots of relevant industrial sectors; some smaller Russian banks & the Russian payment card system; and some evasion targets (China, Serbia, UAE, others). @ACGeoEcon @brianoftoole 1/2 home.treasury.gov/news/press…
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They took years to kill Navalny hoping you would be desensitized when they finally did. Their tactic in Ukraine is no different. Except we can do something about it.
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Sneaky big deal. OFAC removed the typical knowledge threshold required to impose sanctions. Means OFAC doesn’t have to prove someone knew the transaction was problematic. Flip it around: people may have to worry about unknown unknowns re Russia payments.
Daniel Fried (@AmbDanFried) profile pictureDaniel Fried
@AmbDanFried22 Dec 2023
Stand by for additional US financial sanctions against Russia. This would be the third significant sanctions tranche this month (others include new sectoral sanctions and tightening of oil price cap enforcement).
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This is a novel action and goes beyond similar sanctions imposed on Iran, North Korea, and terrorists. Predicting impact is hard since we haven’t seen this before. Opens OFAC’s aperture if they choose to use it. Will watch with great interest.
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Anyone defending this as justified needs to have a serious rethink of their own humanity
Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) profile pictureJoe Truzman
@JoeTruzman10 Oct 2023
An Israel Defense Forces source provided FDD's @LongWarJournal with a photograph of a child's blood-soaked bed in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom following a Hamas-led attack on the home.
Image from Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman)
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Dusting off my writing brain after a while. @AmbDanFried and I examine avenues for increased Russia sanctions that may exist. atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ne…
Five ways the West might increase pressure on the Russian economy

Five ways the West might increase pressure on the Russian economy

The worsening Russian economy may entice Western policymakers to knock Russian President Putin and his power centers further off balance. 

atlanticcouncil.org
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Data don’t worry about alarmist articles on the inevitable demise of the dollar
Tracy Shuchart (𝒞𝒽𝒾 ) (@chigrl) profile pictureTracy Shuchart (𝒞𝒽𝒾 )
@chigrl26 Aug 2023
Dollar Usage in Global Payments in July Rises to Record, Swift Says The figures show greenback-related trades rose to a record 46% in July, compared with slightly more than one-third a decade ago. The dollar was the top currency as measured by transaction count, followed by the euro, pound, yen, and yuan.  bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Image from Tracy Shuchart (𝒞𝒽𝒾 ) (@chigrl)
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Treasury Targets Individuals Involved in Poisoning of Aleksey Navalny content.govdelivery.com/acco…

Treasury Targets Individuals Involved in Poisoning of Aleksey Navalny

content.govdelivery.com
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Seconded. Andrea and Brad are commensurate civil servants. And lovely people to boot. This is a big win for TFI.
Michael Mosier (@m_mosier_) profile pictureMichael Mosier@m_mosier_14 Jul 2023
The Admin is rightly prioritizing technical expertise & nonpartisan public service in both appointments. Not to be lost is the elevation of Brad Smith to Director of OFAC, fmr Chief Counsel + DOJ OLC, who brings apolitical integrity & commitment to rule of law & due process.
Image from Michael Mosier (@m_mosier_)
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Brian O'Toole retweeted
laurence norman (@laurnorman) profile picture
laurence norman@laurnorman7 Jul 2023
100 Days of Injustice. Russia, Free @evangershkovich. Our colleague and friend, who committed no crime other than doing his job. #IstandwithEvan
Image from laurence norman (@laurnorman)
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Great thread by a smart observer
Sam Greene (@samagreene) profile pictureSam Greene@samagreene24 Jun 2023
My main thought, as Prigozhin sends his men back to base, is that this isn’t over yet. I’m not suggesting that Prigozhin will try again. But my strong sense is that Putin’s challenges are only beginning. /1
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Just absolutely fascinating to watch this take place. Thinking back to the first days of the invasion when I said I thought this war was the end of Putin. This may not topple him but shows how weak his hold on power has become
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Ali is, as usual, spot on with his analysis. Hard to see a report like this and not be skeptical.
Ali Vaez (@AliVaez) profile pictureAli Vaez
@AliVaez7 Jun 2023
Quite skeptical of this and similar reports. A humanitarian agreement that includes the release of US detainees may be possible, but a broader arrangement on enrichment limits and substantial sanctions relief strikes me as speculation outpacing reality. [1/3]
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Many congratulations to @DeputySecState on her retirement. A dedicated public servant who did right by her country and helped pave the way for so many.
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