Estonia – four criminal convictions for Russian sanctions offences

The website containing published judgments from the Estonian courts has published a number of judgments relating to convictions for sanctions offences.

1. Conviction of Adilov Mubariz on 23 July 2025

      Decision: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/kohtulahendid/detailid.html?id=413740161

      This individual was convicted of importing a few hundred Russian cigarettes into Estonia in breach of Article 3(i)(1) of EU Regulation 833/2014. This was a second offence.

      The man was given a 3-month jail term, suspended for a 12-month probation period, and ordered to pay €798.42.

      2. Conviction of Alus Grupp OÜ and Taras Potapov on 18 September 2025

      Decision: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/kohtulahendid/detailid.html?id=419399125

      Mr Popatov was convicted of aiding and abetting the provision of a service related to a prohibited strategic good, namely resonance testing machines used in the aviation and aerospace industries. These are dual use goods

      The company Alus Grupp is a freight forwarder and Mr Popatov was one of its directors.

      Another Estonian company and its director purchased the equipment from a supplier in Switzerland and sold them to Russian customers. The invoices showed that the intended ultimate customer was a Russian company. Alus Grupp and its director, being aware of the ultimate customer, on multiple occasions transported the goods to Kazakhstan. On other occasions an intermediary based in the UAE was inserted.

      Mr Popatov was convicted. At the time of his conviction he had already served 5 months in jail. Pursuant to an agreement with the prosecution, the remainder of his 5-year sentence was suspended subject to a 5-year probation period. He was also ordered to pay a penalty of €2,215.

      The company was also convicted and given a fine of €100,000 with a further €200,000 suspended for a 5-year probation period.

      The judgment gives a detailed account of the exporting arrangements. It appears that other prosecutions of the actual exporting parties are ongoing.

      3. Conviction of Anna Shmeljova on 14 October 2025

      Decision: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/kohtulahendid/detailid.html?id=422536761

      Ms Shmeljova was convicted of multiple offences including exporting luxury goods to Russia, namely clothing and hockey skates, and importing cigarettes.

      She was ordered to pay €2,215, and given a five-month jail sentence suspended for a one year probation period.

      4. Conviction of Marine Technics Baltia OÜ and Daniil Haitin on 5 November 2025

      Decision: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/kohtulahendid/detailid.html?id=424933869

      Mr Haitin was convicted of four offences and sentenced to 4 years and eleven months in jail. This sentence was suspended for a 5 year probation period. He was ordered to pay €2,215.

      The company Marine Technics was convicted of two offences and ordered to pay €160,000, as well as €13,251.65.

      The offences related to exports of gas generators, alternators, propulsion systems, thermal cameras and other equipment to Russia, including to military end-users such as Kalashnikov Concern, and the Russian Ministry of Defence.

      False end-user certificates were prepared showing purported customers in Turkey.

      The offending had taken place between 2017 and 2019.

      The judgment notes that the court had prevented the merger or winding up of Marine Technics Baltia OÜ for the duration of the investigation in order to be able to secure a conviction and penalty.

      The judgment gives a detailed account of the exporting arrangements.

      Estonia – arrest and pre-trial detention for sanctioned media offence

      A court in Estonia has remanded an individual, Oleg Bessedin, in custody for two months while he awaits trial.

      The prosecution is for a number of offences including allegedly breaching prohibitions in relation to the dissemination and broadcast of content from designated Russian media outlets under the EU’s sanctions.

      The man denies the charges, but has been remanded due to perceived fight risk.

      Estonia – investigation into bunkering company suspected of sanctions breaches

      It is being reported that the Estonian Prosecutor General’s Office has been investigating a bunkering company for alleged breaches of the EU’s sanctions in relation to Russian oil.

      The report states that raids were conducted in 2023 on the company NT Bunkering, with evidence and property seized.

      In response to a question from LRT, the Prosecutor General’s Office stated that a pre-trial investigation remained ongoing and could not otherwise comment.

      Estonia – 2 year sentence for sanctions offences upheld on appeal

      The Tallin Circuit Court has denied an appeal from Svetlana Burtseva against a conviction for sanctions and treason offences.

      As per our earlier post, Burtseva has been sentenced to 6 years in jail, of which 2 years were for the sanctions offence.

      The sanctions offence was the making of economic resources available to a sanctioned person. Ms Burceva worked for Russian state media outlet RIA Rossiya Segodnya, the head of which is Dmitry Kiselyov who is sanctioned by the EU.

      Estonia – individual sentenced to 4 years and 11 months jail for sanctions and espionage offences

      It has been reported (and here) that Ivan Dmitriev, an Estonian national has been convicted of a range of offences including breaches of sanctions and espionage on behalf of Russia’s FSB.

      He was sentenced to four years and 11 months in jail.

      The reports do not provide detail on the conduct constituting breaches of the EU’s Russian sanctions.

      Estonia – extradition to US on charges of supplying US goods to Russia

      The US Department of Justice has issued a press release confirming that the Estonian authorities have transferred Estonian national Andrey Shevlyakov to US custody for extradition to the US to face 18 counts of supplying US goods and technology to Russia in breach of US sanctions.

      It is being reported that Mr Shevlyakov was first detained in March 2023 as part of a joint investigation between US and Estonian authorities.

      Estonia – prison sentence for offences including the attempted export of luxury goods

      It is being reported that the Tartu Country Court yesterday convicted Erna Moisejeva of a range of offences including the multiple attempted exports of luxury goods to Russia n breach of the EU’s sanctions.

      She was also convicted of espionage and supplying information to the FSB.

      Moisejeva was sentenced to 3 years’ jail and ordered to pay court costs of €3140.

      The judgment remains subject to appeal.

      Estonia – prosecution of lawyer for sanctions offences

      Further to our earlier post, the Estonian authorities have decided to prosecute an Estonian lawyer for alleged breaches of sanctions. The Prosecutor’s Press Release states that attorney Urmas Simon has been charged with making an economic resource available to the designated person Pravfond, in the form of legal services to a third party paid for by Pravfond. Mr Simon is also charged in relation to taking payment from the sanctioned entity.

      Estonia – Russian diplomat expelled, in part for sanctions violations

      The Foreign Ministry of Estonia has issued a press release stating that it has declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata requiring the diplomat to leave Estonia.

      The press release stated, in part:

      The diplomat in question has been directly and actively involved in undermining the constitutional order and legal system of Estonia, as well as in dividing Estonian society, contributing to the crimes against the state, including several offences related to sanctions violations. At present, one citizen of the Republic of Estonia has been convicted for carrying out these crimes.” 

      No further information is yet avail;able on the specifics of the alleged violations, or of the conviction of the Estonian national.

      Estonia – sanctioned Russian timber enforcement

      Estonia’s Customs has issued information on its current enforcement activity in relation to sanctioned Russian timber.

      While noting the use of Kazakhstan, China and Georgia as prominent third countries used for attempts to import Russian timber, Estonian Customs notes:

      • 618 inspections conducted on imported timber;
      • 79 shipments refused entry to Estonia;
      • 100 proceedings based on a fraudulent origin of the timber commenced; and
      • 23 sanctions violations identified.

      The release does not identify the outcomes of the 23 identified violations.

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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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