Dual-Use Goods – European Sanctions Enforcement

June 1, 2026June 1, 2026 by Mark Handley

Estonia – sanctions enforcement data since January 2026 for Customs and Tax Board

Collating the outcomes published in the weekly reports by Estonia’s Tax and Customs Board (see our earlier post for the period from 14 October 2025 to 13 January 2026), reveals the following data:

18 fines
total fines of €226,669, with most being small and one of €219,210 including confiscation
13 cases referred to misdemeanour prosecution
3 cases referred to criminal prosecution, including one case that resulted in a 1 year jail term, a 3 year ban on entry to Estonia and a €3400 fine
6 cases referred for further investigation.

The weekly reports give details of many other prevented exports and imports where no further action was taken for first time offenders.

March 18, 2026March 18, 2026 by Mark Handley

Latvia – 11 year jail sentence for exporting Starlink kits to the Russian military

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.

March 16, 2026March 16, 2026 by Mark Handley

Spain – prosecution for military exports to Russia

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.

February 26, 2026February 26, 2026 by Mark Handley

Belgium – trial of three individuals for dual-use exports to Russia

Further to our post from last week regarding the prosecution of a Russian national in Belgium, for Russian sanctions breaches, it is now being reported that the prosecution is targeting three individuals.

The second suspect is the son of Viktor Labin (the first defendant). He is said to be currently living in Russia and the subject of an international arrest warrant.

The third suspect is currently out in bail.

The dual-use goods said to have been exported to Russia include iron, alumina, yttrium oxide, and explosive propagation detectors.

February 20, 2026February 20, 2026 by Mark Handley

Belgium – prosecution for alleged sanctioned exports to Russian military

Following a raid conducted in June 2025, the Belgian authorities have detained Russian national Viktor Labin pending investigation of alleged breaches of Russian sanctions.

It is now being reported that trial in the prosecution is scheduled to begin on 26 February 2026.

It is alleged that he was responsible for exporting machinery and devices for use by the Russian military or in manufacturing.

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 by Mark Handley

Germany – raids and five arrested as part of alleged Russian procurement network

Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office has issued a press release detailing that the German authorities this morning have arrested 5 individuals as part of raids on premises in Lübeck, Frankfurt am Main, and Nuremberg.

Five of the suspects are named as Artem I, Boris M, Eugen R, Nikita S and Daniel A. Five suspects remain wanted.

The allegation is that a German company based in Lübeck has made 16,000 deliveries to 24 different Russian defence companies with the goods valued as at least €30 million. The category of goods is not specified.

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 by Mark Handley

Finland – two individuals convicted of dual-use exports to Russia

Further to our earlier posts (here and here and here), the remaining two defendants prosecuted for exporting dual-use goods to Russia have been convicted in Finland.

It is being reported that the two Russian nationals, aged 27 and 20, were given suspended jail sentences of one year and four months respectively.

The total value of the goods was around €140,000 and included range finders, laptops, processors and other electronic equipment.

January 27, 2026January 27, 2026 by Mark Handley

Germany – investigation into company alleged to have supplied materials for Russian drones

It is being reported that a mutual legal assistance request has been sent by German authorities to Ukraine investigating press reports of German companies alleged to have supplied materials used in the building of the Shahed drones used by Russian in the conflict with Ukraine.

The German company reported to be the target of the information gathering is Goettle Advanced Products GmbH & Co. KG and possible connections to the Russian manufacturer Composite Products LLC.

December 23, 2025 by Mark Handley

Lithuania – raids as part of investigation into sanctioned exports to Russia and Belarus

It is being reported (here and here) that Lithuania’s Financial Crime Investigation Service and the State Security Department, with coordinating assistance from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, are undertaking an investigation into suspected breaches of the EU’s Russian and Belarus sanctions by Lithuanian, Russian and Belarus individuals.

It is alleged that those involved forged documents to obtain funding from the EU Space Agency, and that the money was then used (with other funds) by a company incorporated in Lithuania to obtain and export microchips, semiconductors, navigation systems, and other technical devices to Russia and Belarus.

In total 10 raids were conducted, and 5 individuals and one company are under investigation.

December 3, 2025December 3, 2025 by Mark Handley

Finland – two individuals charged with sanctioned export offences

Further to our earlier post, it is now being reported that the Finnish authorities have charged the two remaining defendants (the first having plead guilty) on suspicion of exports to Russia of dual-use drones, laptops, computer processors, smartphones and laser rangefinders in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The value of the exports is said to have been around €140,000, with the exports said to have taken place between 2022 and 2024.