Comments by a United Nations rapporteur have revealed an ongoing criminal investigation into imports of timber products from Belarus allegedly in breach of EU sanctions.
The case was referred to prosecutors by the German customs authorities and raids were conducted in March 2023, and further investigatory steps have taken place this month.
The individual charged is Alena Bekker and the importing company was Texforum-Interhandel e.K.
Both appear to deny the allegations in part on the basis that the imports were done in accordance with grand-fathering provisions when the Belarus timber ban was introduced.