Denmark – sanctions enforcement activity 2022-2024

Presenting a webinar this morning made me aware that this blog had missed a number of stories relating to Danish sanctions enforcement.

I have endeavoured to rectify that gap with a number of posts filling gaps from 2022 through to early 2024. Because I have back-dated the posts so that they appear in the correct sequence it made sense to collect them into a properly new post to  highlight the additions.

Importantly, between February 2022 and August 2023 a total of 98 investigations were opened, with 16 referred to the police. In addition the police have charged a company and two individuals in relation to one particular case.

Netherlands – prosecution of Russian national

It is being reported that a Russian national, who was formerly an employee of chip manufacturer ASML, and of Mapper Lithography, is being prosecuted for both breach of EU sanctions and for theft of trade secrets.

The man is currently in custody. As part of the prosecution the individual has been banned from travel to the Netherlands for 20 years.

The man is alleged to have stolen documents, such as microchip manuals and passed those to Russian recipients to aid microchip production.

Latvia – 2-year jail sentence for breaching designated person’s asset freeze

It is being reported that the Kurzeme District Court has sentenced the Latvian citizen Valentins Rozencovs, to 2 years in jail.

The sentence was that sought by the prosecution, although the case is subject to appeal.

Rozencovs was the editor-in-chief of Sputnik Latvija which is the Latvian branch of Sputnik which operates under the umbrella of a Russian state-owned media company Rossiya Segodnya.

The Director General of Rossiya Segodnya is a designated person (Dmitry Kiselyov), and the prosecution was based on the premise that the provision of services by Valentins Rozencovs was making economic resources available to a designated person, and that Sputnik Latvija was “owned or controlled” by Kiselyov.

This is the latest in a series of prosecutions relating to Rossiya Segodnya – see our earlier posts, here and here.

Hungary – fine imposed on individual for imports from Russia

It is being reported that Hungarian authorities have reached a settlement to resolve the prosecution of an individual identified as M.M.

The prosecution was based on importing car parts from Russia, via Belarus, in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The imports are said to have been valued at HUF 35 million (€84,500), and the agreed settlement was for a fine HUF 1 million (€2,400), the confiscation of the imported parts and the payment of legal costs.

This is the first known example of an enforcement action in Hungary.

Germany – sanctions investigation into alleged exports to Belarus by politician’s company

It is being reported that a German customs investigation has been commenced into the business affairs Jörg Dornau who is an MP in the Saxon state parliament.

It is alleged that he arranged for the export of machinery to Belarus in breach of EU trade sanctions.

It is alleged that the goods were first sent to Kazakhstan before then being on-shipped to a company in which the politician has interests in Belarus called Zybulka-Bel.

The press article mentions that before any prosecution could be brought the MP’s immunity would need to first be lifted.

Latvia – prosecution for exports to Belarus in breach of sanctions

It is being reported that a Belarusian businessman resident in Latvia is being prosecuted for alleged exports to Belarus in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The businessman, Igor Medved, is also reported to be preparing a guilty plea.

It is alleged that through his company, Nordwoc Limited, exports of sanctioned machinery have been made to Belarus. The precise type of machinery is not specified in the reports.

The investigation by the State Security Service was first made public in October 2023, at which time a freeze was also imposed on the shares of Nordwoc.

The prosecution is reported to be seeking a two-year custodial sentence, a fine of €225,000 and confiscation of €30,000 as well as confiscation of the shares of Nordwoc.

Poland – German national charged with exporting dual-use goods to Russia

It is being reported that Polish authorities have arrested and charged a German national with exporting dual-use technology to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.

The arrest was in the Lubusz province and relates to the export of machinery which can be used in weapons manufacture. It is also said that the exports were directed at “Russian military plants involved in weapons production”.

The individual is reported to have admitted his guilt.

The press release is here.

Latvia – update on current sanctions enforcement including 5 convictions in 2024

An article in Latvia’s LTV has provided an update on a number of features of Latvian sanctions enforcement.

Firstly, the Customs Administration stated that they had confirmed 2,623 breaches of sanctions so far this year up from 2,175 in 2023.

It was also stated that to date “€662,498.27 worth of goods have been confiscated in favor of the State in criminal proceedings for breach of sanctions”.

This is a substantially higher figure that those for confiscations identified in our recent post summarising Latvian convictions obtained in 2022 and 2023.

The article also stated that a total of 14 prosecutions had been brought in relation to the making available of economic resources to companies (i.e. the websites Sputnik and Baltnews) owned or controlled by Dmitry Kiselyov.

Two of those prosecutions ended in convictions in 2023 (as per our earlier post above), but the article adds that “This year [i.e. 2024], three more cases have ended in fines and community service”.

Lastly, the article adds that there have been two other convictions obtained during 2024, but that none of the 2024 judgments have yet entered into force.

Although not mentioned in the article, it has been confirmed to me by Paulis Iljenkovs of Latvia’s FIU (who has also consented to me sharing the information), that Latvia currently has 382 ongoing sanctions investigations.

United Kingdom – further charges against individual already facing prosecution for breaching Russian sanctions

As an addition to the existing prosecution it is being reported that the National Crime Agency has added two new charges to those against Alexei Owsjanikow. It is alleged that he paid £41,027.25 on behalf of his brother-in-law, designated person Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, towards private school fees.

The payments are said to have been made in May this year, which would be after Owsjanikow had already been charged with other sanctions offences.

The trial for this prosecution is currently scheduled for March 2025.

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The opinions expressed on this blog are those of the author and are not to be construed as legal advice.

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