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> When I asked “what about sanctions” he gave me the blankest look I’ve ever seen. Yeah, in the same position I wouldn't care about those either and would give
by jbm 4y ago
> When I asked “what about sanctions” he gave me the blankest look I’ve ever seen.
Yeah, in the same position I wouldn't care about those either and would give you the same blank look.
Economic sanctions are a political act, and I can think of many ethical positions (class, ethnic, religious solidarity, rejection of extremism, rejection of central economic controls, immediate humanitarian need for items that are sanctioned, etc..) that may lead someone to disregard them entirely.
A practical concern here would be security (not knowing who is involved == not knowing if they have alternative goals). I suppose they may have been trying to implement zero-trust development practices (can that even exist?) but that sounds like a great way to put a big fat brake on any work being done.
(Disclaimer: Never owned any crypto, nor have I ever violated any sanctions)
- throwaway290 4y agoIt's criminal to evade sanctions for a reason. As a Russian can tell you that oligarchs being able to convert dirty money into cool western lifestyle is probably the what keeps this thieving and oppressing regime going. If they were cut off from this, the regime would fall because very few insane people would associate with Putin for reasons other than personal gain. But they are not cut off cold turkey and they still have avenues where sanctions are not applied, like crypto, so they have time to sort things out. Note that it's not illegal to provide humanitarian aid or help in other ways. It's not even illegal AFAIK to transact, as long as you make sure you are not involving anything or anyone sanctioned. (But I'm not a lawyer)
- voldacar 4y agoThe reason is that the government doesn't like it. Not particularly mystical or significant if you ask me.
- throwaway290 4y agoThe reason sanctions are evaded is that criminals don't like them. FTFY
- Semaphor 4y ago> It's criminal to evade sanctions for a reason. It’s criminal to evade them as a citizen of the sanctioning country. That might be a lot of countries, it might also be only the world police USA.
- seanhunter 4y agoObviously it depends on the sanction in question, but many/most sanctions are multilateral and I don’t know of any which are currently US-only. The UN security council for example is considered to have a mandate to decree international sanctions against a nation. Here is the UN’s sanctions info https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/information https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/information
- Semaphor 4y agoThis has a list of non-UN-mandated sanctions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctions_against_Iran https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctions_against_Iran
- biztos 4y ago> Economic sanctions are a political act... I can see why someone would choose to "disregard" (violate/evade) sanctions if they disagree, and I can see why someone would want to make what is effectively a sanctions-proof company. I just think if you're building a system ideally suited for, say, sanctions-busting or money-laundering or whatever, that you should consider the risk of colliding with the world of laws.
- watwut 4y agoYeah, people with blank look over the word sanctions totally made ethical and moral decision of disagreeing with those sanctions because they are wrong /s That being said, I don't even think it is better. When you make active decisions to, say, help Russian goverment, you are not exactly coming off better then someone clueless doing the same.