The UK authorities have arrested a man, Graham Bonham-Carter, as part of an extradition request from the US authorities.
The man is alleged to have conspired to breach US sanctions for and on behalf of Oleg Deripaska.
Latvia – confiscation of $4m as part of investigation of UN sanctions breaches
Further to our earlier post, the Latvian VDD is investigating arms sales to an unnamed African country allegedly in breach of UN sanctions.
As part of that investigation the VDD has today announced the confiscation of $4m uncovered in an offshore account.
Netherlands – man arrested on suspicion of unlawful exports to Russia
The Dutch authorities have announced the arrest of a 55-year old on suspicion of exporting dual-use microchips to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
Searches were carried out at a number of premises.
The man is alleged to have falsified the end-user information for the exports.
Austria – 3 individuals and 7 companies punished for non-compliance
It has been reported today that the Austrian State Protection Director has confirmed that three individuals and seven companies have been prosecuted for non-compliance with Russia sanctions.
No further details were provided.
UK’s OFSI imposes EU Russian sanctions civil penalty
OFSI today announced that it had imposed a civil penalty for breach of the UK’s Russian sanctions.
The penalty notice is available here.
The fine was imposed on Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition Limited (HKIWS), and was just £30,000.
The conduct in question was the receipt of funds and goods from a designated person. The goods in question were wine bottles. HKIWS was also found to have made “economic resources” available to a designated person. This was in the form of publicity, and illustrates OFSI’s wide view of what amounts to the making available of an economic resource.
UK – investigation into possible sanctions offences by Petr Aven
It has been reported today that the UK’s National Crime Agency is investigating possible sanctions breaches by six companies and individuals associated with Petr Aven who is a designated person under the UK’s sanctions.
The authorities have obtained Account Freezing Orders over two accounts allegedly holding £1.5 million and these orders are being challenged by Mr Aven.
Germany – Munich prosecutor investigates alleged sanctions breaches
It has been reported that the Munich state prosecutor has conducted comprehensive raids at the residence of a Russian citizen and four other suspects.
The Russian national is suspected of having recruited a security firm to observe properties in Upper Bavaria financially linked to him, and that the payments made to the firm were in breach of the asset freeze imposed on this designated person.
Also being investigated are the security firm and its staff.
The designated person has been named as Alisher Usmanov but this is a different investigation to the one we have separately reported.
Germany – raids on property of designated person
The German authorities have conducted raids on properties in three states relating to an investigation into Alisher Usmanov, a designated person under the EU’s sanctions.
The investigation is said to relate to transactions conducted between 2017 and 2022.
Germany – man charged for exports to Iran
Further to our earlier post, the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office has issued a press release confirming that Alexander J. has been charged with various breaches of the EU’s sanctions against Iran.
The Iranian company purchasing equipment through Alexander J. is said to be a designated person, while the products themselves are also prohibited from being exported to Iran.
The goods are said to have been for use in Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and to have been valued at over €1 million.
Netherlands – 30 month custodial sentence for breach of ISIS sanctions
The Rotterdam District Court has imposed a 30-month custodial sentence on an individual relating to a two-year period in which financial transfers of approximately $140,000 were made in breach of EU sanctions against ISIS and Al Qaeda.
The transfers were related to efforts to smuggle Dutch women who had travelled to Syria and Iraq to be part of ISIS out of that region and back to the Netherlands.