The Norwegian authorities have arrested a Russian for flying a drone within Norwegian airspace in breach of the ban on Russian flights.
The man is reported to be Andrey Yakunin, the son of the former head of the Russian Railways.
Netherlands – 18 month sentence for exports to Iran
The Dutch Supreme Court has denied an appeal against an 18-month custodial sentence against an individual for his role in seven exports of goods to the National Iranian Gas Company which is a designated person under the EU’s sanctions.
The shipments were made via Turkey or Dubai and the defence argued in the appeal that this was not “indirectly” making economic resources available to a designated person. The Supreme Court disagreed.
UK – convicted exporter to Iran ordered to pay £700,000
HMRC has announced that British national Alexander George has been ordered to pay £700,000 in a confiscation order issued by the Southwark Crown Court. The funds are the proceeds of crime related to his conviction for exporting parts for jet fighters to Iran.
For more on his conviction back in 2018 see our earlier post.
Spain – Russian origin cargo denied port access
The Spanish maritime authorities have refused port access to the tanker Black Star alleging that it took on board Russian cargo from the Russian-flagged vessel Andrey Pervozvanniy, in a ship-to-ship transfer near Malta.
Greece – seizure of Russian oil tanker
It has been reported today that the Greek coastguard has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in Greek waters, as part of the enforcement of the EU’s Russian sanctions.
The tanker is named as the Pegas, although it recently changed its named to the Lana.
Finland – investigation into possible breaches of EU flight ban
The Police of Finland have today announced an investigation in alleged breaches of the EU sanctions ban on Russian flights in EU airspace.
The investigation relates to four passenger aircraft which entered Finnish airspace.
The investigation is being jointly conducted with the Finnish Defence Forces and the Border Guard.
Germany – investigation confirmed into engineering company’s Russian exports
The German Ministry of Economy has launched an investigation into whether engineering company Bosch has made unlawful exports to Russian in breach of EU sanctions.
France – seizure of vessel alleged to be owned by sanctioned Russian bank
The French authorities have seized the cargo ship, Baltic Leader, claimed to be owned by sanctioned Russian bank Promsvyazbank.
The vessel was headed to Russian but seized in the channel.
Germany – five being investigated in relation to export of gas turbines to Crimea
It is being reported today that the Hamburg Public Prosecutor’s Office is currently investigating five individuals in relation to the export from Germany to Crimea of gas turbines manufactured by Siemens.
The broader investigation into the export of these turbines has been ongoing since 2018. See our earlier post.
Four of the individuals being investigated are German nationals, three of whom worked for Siemens in Russia, and the fifth is a Swiss national.
Denmark – sentences and fines for breach of Syrian sanctions
Two Danish companies have been convicted of exporting 177,000 tonnes of jet fuel to Syria in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
In total some 33 transactions took place between 2015 and 2017, with the exports routed through Russian companies bound for Syria.
The company Dan-Bunkering was fined DKK 30 million ($4.6m), with a further DKK 15 million of unlawful profits confiscated.
The parent company Bunker Holding was fined DKK 4 million.
The Dan Bunkering CEO was also convicted and given a four-month custodial sentence , suspended pending a one year probation period.