Austria – European Sanctions Enforcement

August 24, 2026August 24, 2026 by Mark Handley

Austria – two convicted for exporting sanctioned machinery to Russia

Further to our previous post, it is now being reported that the Austrian investigation into suspected exports of CNC machines has ended in two criminal convictions.

A 28 year old was the director and shareholder in the Vienna-based company involved. He received a 21 month sentence of which 19 months were suspended. He was released upon his conviction having already served more than two months in detention.

The second defendant was a 24-year old who dealt with the company’s accounts and was also a shareholder. She was given a 15-month suspended sentence.

Both had pleaded guilty to the charges.

The reporting makes no mention of a financial fine, or of any confiscation of the proceeds of crime.

August 11, 2026August 11, 2026 by Mark Handley

Austria – suspected exports of military manufacturing equipment lead to raids and arrest

Austria’s Interior Ministry has issued a press release detailing on ongoing investigation and prosecution into a procurement network for the Russian arms industry.

The goods were CNC machines and related tools for metal processing. The suspected exports involved a network of companies in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Poland and Lithuania.

End-user certificates were also forged to mask that the real customer was Russia’s state-owned arms manufacturer ROSTEC. The goods are said to have been used in the production of engines for missiles and fighter jets.

Four properties were raided in August 2025 revealing evidence of exports valued at €3.3 million mostly shipped via Hong Kong and Turkey.

Evidence of continuing intentions to export led to the arrest on 13 May 2026 of a Belarussian national who was the managing director and co-shareholder of the unnamed company. He remains in custody.

February 23, 2026February 23, 2026 by Mark Handley

Austria – Financial Market Authority partially suspends crypto exchange over lack of AML and sanctions compliance officers

Austria’s Financial Market Authority has announced that its has partially suspended its approval for KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH under the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets regulations.

The suspension means that KuCoin is unable to take on new customers, conclude new contracts, or offer new services.

The suspension is based on the the loss, without replacement, of a Anti-Money Laundering Officer and a Sanctions Compliance Officer.

The FMA has stated that the suspension will remain in place while those positions remain unfilled.

October 5, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

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.

March 30, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Austria – 4 convictions for exporting military goods

Included in the annual criminal prosecution statistics for Austria in 2020 is the figure that the authorities there have secured 4 convictions for breaches of section 7 the Austrian “War Materials Law”, and 9 convictions over all.

No detail is published on the nature of the offending, the identity of the offenders, or the sentences imposed.

December 30, 2019January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Austria – military goods enforcement

The Austrian annual criminal statistics reveal 4 convictions for the year 2018 for breaches of section 7 the “War Materials Law”. Two other convictions for other offences were obtained in the year.

No information was published on the nature of the offending, the identity of the offenders or the sentences.

May 14, 2018January 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Austrian military goods enforcement (2008-2017)

The Austrian Ministry of Justice has published statistics showing its enforcement between 2008 and 2017 of the Austrian “War Materials Law”.

Year	Investigations	Prosecutions	Penalty Notices	Convictions
2008	15	2	0	2
2009	19	2	0	0
2010	23	6	0	3
2011	18	4	0	2
2012	21	3	2	1
2013	22	7	1	3
2014	16	5	1	1
2015	30	5	2	4
2016	30	7	0	3
2017	29	9	1	6