Further to our earlier post, following raids in November 2025, the German authorities have issued a press release reporting on the charging of a 57-year old from Dessau-Rosslau, with exporting €7.6m worth of luxury cars to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.
It is alleged that he has been responsible for the export of 236 cars, and is facing 154 charges.
The Latvia Prosecutor’s office has secured a conviction and 11-year jail term against an Azerbaijani national.
Three other defendants (including two Latvian nationals) are to be tried separately.
The man was convicted for his role in exporting dozens of Starlink Mini Kits to the Russian military, as well as “other goods used for military activities, including weapons parts, cartridge shells, bullets, ballistic weather meters, in total worth about 200, 000 euros”.
As well as sanctions offences the man was convicted of being part of an organised group to assist a foreign state in undermining the territorial integrity and independence of a democratic state.
In addition to the 11-year jail term, upon release he will be expelled from Latvia and be subject to a 5-year ban on re-entry.
This is the longest known sentence for breach of the EU’s Russian sanctions.
It is being reported that the Spanish authorities are bringing a criminal prosecution for suspected exports of military aircraft engines to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
One individual, Olga V, has been in custody since her arrest in 2023. Another individual, Kostiantyn Antonovich Kucher, former Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Industrial Policy, is in detention in Azerbaijan pending extradition proceedings to bring him to Spain.
It is alleged that the two, and a network of companies (including Aero Design Systems and Global Force Technology), sought to export aircraft engines to Russia including to the United Aircraft Corporation.
The investigation has included the seizure of three engines by German customs.
It is being reported that the Estonian authorities are investigating a large-scale scheme to export luxury cars to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
Two individuals and two companies are suspected of exporting 209 vehicles valued at €25 million.
So far one individual, an Estonian national, has been arrested and is in custody pending further investigations – the court having determined her to be a flight risk.
On Thursday the Swedish authorities seized the oil tanker the Sea Owl I, in Swedish water.
The vessel was claiming to be flagged in the Comorros, but the authorities are alleging that the paperwork was forged.
It is also being reported that the crew has been questioned by the Swedish Prosecution Authority and that captain of the vessel has been arrested and has been ordered to be held in custody pending further investigations.
This is the second vessel seized by Sweden in as many weeks.
It is being reported (originally here behind a paywall, and here) that Portugal’s Tax and Customs Authority currently has ongoing investigations into possible breaches and/or circumvention of the EU’s Russian sanctions.
These appear to be separate from, and additional to, those investigations, as per our earlier post, being conducted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
On Monday the Spanish authorities conducted raids on multiple properties in Mallorca alleged to be owned by or for Nikolai Kolesov, a businessman designated under the EU’s sanctions since December 2024.
Three people have been arrested including a lawyer and someone who stood as proxy as part of the alleged transactions.
The raids were conducted on the homes of those arrested and at the villa properties.
There have been some high-profile examples of this in the last month or so, but the practice can be seen to have started years ago, while the number of examples made it sensible to gather them all in one place.
The vessels are not all oil tankers but also include bulk cargo carriers and container vessels:
26 February 2022 – France seizes the Baltic Leader
20 April 2022 – Greece seizes the Lana
10 January 2025 – Germany seizes the Eventin
17 January 2025 – Finland seizes the Eagle S
14 April 2025 – Estonia seizes the Kiwala
6 October 2025 – France seizes the Boracay
23 December 2025 – Sweden seizes the Adler
2 January 2026 – Finland seizes the Fitburg
19 January 2026 – Italy seizes the Hizir Reis
27 January 2026 – France seizes the Grinch
20 February 2026 – Denmark seizes the Nora
2 March 2026 – Belgium seizes the Ethera
9 March 2026 – Sweden seizes the Caffa
Updates since original post:
16 March 2026 – Sweden seizes the Sea Owl I
23 March 2026 – France seizes the Deyna
3 April 2026 – Sweden seizes the Flora 1
The Latvian authorities have convicted, and fined, an individual and company for sanctioned timber imports from Russia.
The imports were of 50 packages of timber.
The company which procured the import was fined €39,000, and the individual who arranged the imports was fined €14,800. In addition the individual had the proceeds of the sale (€13,935) confiscated as the proceeds of crime.
As separate prosecution has been brought again the customs agent.
Further to our earlier post regarding his extradition from Italy to Estonia, it is now being reported that Ivan Anchevsky has been sentenced to 3 and a half years jail for prohibited exports of equipment to Russia.
The judgment remains subject to appeal.
The conviction relates to the shipping of equipment from Switzerland to Russia with assistance from Anchevsky and his companies Militec LLC and Militec Europe.
As part of the same trial Anchevsky was acquitted of charges of exporting dual use goods.
