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Posted on by Mark Handley

United Kingdom – joint sanctions investigation with US into $20 billion crypto transactions

It is being reported that the UK and the US are undertaking a joint investigation into $20 billion in crypto currency transactions said to be in breach of Russian sanctions.

The payments under scrutiny flowed through the Moscow-based Garantex crypto exchange, utilizing the dollar-pegged stablecoin Tether.

The original story was published by Bloomberg, behind a paywall.

It is also being reported that the National Crime Agency and HM Treasury have provided no comment in relation to the investigation.

Posted on by Mark Handley

Germany – five charged in relation to the export of Siemens’ gas turbines to Crimea

It is being reported that the Hamburg Public Prosecutor’s Office (which does not publish press releases online) has charged five individuals on suspicion of exporting gas turbines to Crimea in breach of EU sanctions.

The gas turbines were manufactured by Siemens.

Of the five individuals, who have been under investigation since at least 2021 (see our earlier post), one remains an employee of Siemens. Four are German nationals and one is Swiss.

It is alleged that they were aware that the gas turbines being exported to Russia (then not prohibited) were destined for export and installation in Crimea in breach of the EU’s Crimea-specific sanctions.

Posted on by Mark Handley

Latvia – arrest on suspicion of breaching US sanctions

The US Department of Justice has issued a press release confirming that the Latvian authorities have arrested a 55-year old, Oleg Chistyakov.

He has been charged with multiple counts of breaching US sanctions and other offences as part of an alleged wider conspiracy with two other also-charged individuals to supply avionics materials to Russia in breach of US sanctions.

The man was arrested near Riga on 19 March pending proceedings for extradition to the United States.

Posted on by Mark Handley

Estonia – arrest and detention of journalist for alleged Russian sanctions breach

It is being reported today that a further journalist, Svetlana Burtseva, associated with the Russian media group Rossiya Segodnya has been arrested on suspicion of breaching EU sanctions.

The journalist was arrested in early March and is currently in detention.

This is a further Estonian example, see our earlier post, of a charge being brought on the basis that under EU sanctions services amount to an “economic resource” and to provide services to a designated person is to breach the asset freeze.

Posted on by Mark Handley

Poland – sanctions investigation into Belarus timber imports

It has been reported today that the Polish Interior Ministry has confirmed an investigation into the alleged importation of timber from Belarus.

The allegations include that the timber was accompanied by forged documentation purporting to show a Kazakhstan origin for the timber.

Other investigations into alleged imports of timber from Russia or Belarus in breach of EU sanctions are underway in:

Posted on by Mark Handley

Netherlands – 137 new investigations into Russian sanctions breaches commenced since September 2023

In not commenting on whether a specific investigation was or was not ongoing , the Dutch Foreign Ministry has confirmed publicly that there are currently 192 ongoing investigations into possible Russian sanctions breaches.

Further to our earlier post from September 2023 there were at that stage 55 ongoing investigations.

The new figures indicate that 137 new investigations have been commenced since September last year.

No further information has been released on the status or nature of those investigations.

Posted on by Mark Handley

Cyprus – investigation into potential attempted sanctions circumvention

It has been reported today that the Company Registrar in Cyprus, alongside the Cyprus Bar Association, are investigating an instance of possible Russian sanctions breaches.

The investigation relates to allegations that two days after additions to the OFAC SDN list a Cypriot company newly-filed documents purporting to show corporate rearrangements dating back several years which is accurate and reliable would remove the company from the impact of the US listing.

It is unclear whether the investigation relates to any breaches of the EU’s sanctions.

 

Posted on by Mark Handley

Germany – seizure of cargo of Russian timber

It is being reported that the German customs authorities have seized a cargo of Russian timber bound for the United States valued at over $40 million.

The seizure arose because the vessel carrying the timber to the United States was required to call into the port of Rostock due to technical difficulties.

The customs authorities have taken the view that this amounts to an import into the EU of sanctioned timber products from Russia. This determination is currently the subject of an appeal.

The Canadian company, Atlantic Ro-Ro Carriers owns the vessel involved.

It is also being reported that 10% of the cargo is products of a company owned or controlled by a person designated under the EU’s sanctions.

Posted on by Mark Handley

Belgium – multiple raids related to Russian diamonds

On Friday the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s office announced that it conducted six raids and arrested four individuals in relation to suspected breaches of the EU’s trade sanctions relating to Russian diamonds.

It is being reported that the investigation arose after the seizure of a cargo of diamonds on February, and that a total of three shipments had been seized with a reported value of over €8 million.

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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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