Germany – Page 4 – European Sanctions Enforcement

March 5, 2024May 3, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – investigation into garage company’s alleged circumvention of Belarus sanctions

The German company Hörmann, which manufactures garages doors, gates and other products, is reported to be under investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s office in Germany. Also being investigated are the Hörmann subsidiaries Alutech Group based in Minsk and Eluteck Investments Limited based in Cyprus.

The company is reported to have denied the allegations which were first by WirtschaftsWoche in January 2024.

The allegations relate to the alleged importation of sanctioned goods from Belarus via Russia for the time when the products in question were prohibited from Belarus but were not prohibited imports from Russia.

March 1, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – prosecution into alleged timber imports from Belarus

Comments by a United Nations rapporteur have revealed an ongoing criminal investigation into imports of timber products from Belarus allegedly in breach of EU sanctions.

The case was referred to prosecutors by the German customs authorities and raids were conducted in March 2023, and further investigatory steps have taken place this month.

The individual charged is Alena Bekker and the importing company was Texforum-Interhandel e.K.

Both appear to deny the allegations in part on the basis that the imports were done in accordance with grand-fathering provisions when the Belarus timber ban was introduced.

February 9, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany: BaFin investigation into bank ongoing

There has been press reporting into the ongoing investigation by the German financial service regulator, BaFin, into the German bank Varengold Bank AG.

The investigation remains ongoing and so far no individuals have been accused of wrongdoing, and no reference has been made in relation to a criminal prosecution.

For our earlier post regarding the BaFin announcement see here.

February 2, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – ISIS prosecutions and the meaning of “making funds or economic resources available”

In three decisions last year, the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) issued judgments dealing with persons charged with (amongst other crimes) making funds available to ISIS in breach of the relevant EU sanctions regulation.

One of the questions considered in the judgments is the extent to which transfers to individual members of the ISIS rank and file count as “making funds available” to ISIS itself.

Continue reading “Germany – ISIS prosecutions and the meaning of “making funds or economic resources available””

December 20, 2023January 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – prosecutors seek confiscation of €720 million

It has been reported that Federal Prosecutors in Germany have applied to confiscate €720 million in frozen assets belonging to Russia’s National Securities Depository.

After the NSD had been designated it had sought to move the funds and made transfer requests to JP Morgan and Commerzbank which refused to proceed with the transfer. As such the prosecutors are seeking to have the funds treated as the proceeds of crime and so confiscatable under ordinary anti-money laundering rules.

November 13, 2023March 6, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – charges for exporting military and dual use goods to Russia

Further to our earlier post, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office has issued a press release confirming charges against Ulli S for exports to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.

Continue reading “Germany – charges for exporting military and dual use goods to Russia”

October 26, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – arrest and raids re export of drone parts to Russia

It was reported today that the German authorities have conducted searches at six premises and arrested a man on suspicion of illegally exporting drone parts valued at €2.1m in breach of the EU’s Russian sanctions.

The exports are alleged to have been routed through Hong Kong as a means of attempting the circumvention of the sanctions.

October 6, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

German authorities raid properties of designated person

It has been reported today that the German authorities in Bavaria have conducted raids on multiple properties belonging to a designated person.

While the German authorities have not stated the identity of the designated person, press reporting has stated the person is Alisher Usmanov.

September 23, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

German authorities confirm Iran sanctions investigation

It has been reported today that the German authorities have confirmed the commencement of an investigation following press reporting regarding whether German companies which attended a trade fair in Iran had done so in breach of EU sanctions.

September 15, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany: report of 150 ongoing criminal investigations

It was reported today by Reuters that there are 150 ongoing sanctions investigations being undertaken in Germany.

No further details were published.