Italy – European Sanctions Enforcement

February 28, 2025 by Mark Handley

Italy and Estonia – extradition of sanctions suspect to Estonia

It is being reported that the Estonian Prosecutor’s office has successfully completed the extradition of suspect Ivan Anchevsky, after he was arrested in Italy.

The prosecution of Anchevsky for suspected exports to Russian in breach of EU sanctions, forms part of a wider investigation including two unnamed Estonian companies and their boards of directors.

Anchesvsky, who is a citizen of both Estonia and Russia, is suspected of using his companies Melytec and Melytec Testing to export sanctions goods to Russia.

November 15, 2024November 28, 2024 by Mark Handley

European sanctions enforcement: the custodial sentences

Although one of the filters on this blog is “custodial sentence”, I thought it might be helpful to collect all the examples in one place.

As such, here is the full list of custodial sentences that have been imposed across Europe for sanctions offences since 2017. Please note this excludes suspended sentences.

2017:

Netherlands – 2 years: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2017/03/14/netherlands-two-year-sentence-for-breach-of-al-qaida-sanctions/
Netherlands – 19 years (although this sentence included numerous other offences): https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2017/04/21/netherlands-19-year-jail-term-upheld-on-appeal/
Italy – 2 years: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2017/05/03/italy-two-year-sentence-for-arms-exports-to-libya-and-iran/
Italy – two individuals given 3 years and 8 months and 3 years and 6 months respectively: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2017/07/13/italy-sentences-for-arms-exports-to-iran-and-libya/
Netherlands – 16 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2017/09/04/netherlands-fine-and-custodial-sentence-imposed-for-breach-of-iran-sanctions/

2018:

United Kingdom – 2.5 years: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2018/11/22/uk-three-convicted-of-exporting-military-goods-to-iran/

2019:

Belgium – 12 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2019/02/07/belgium-convictions-for-breaching-syrian-sanctions/
Netherlands – two individuals given 1 month each: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2019/02/18/netherlands-two-companies-and-three-individuals-convicted-of-iran-exports/
Netherlands – 12 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2019/11/05/netherlands-conviction-for-breach-of-isis-sanctions-2/

2020:

Germany – 7 years: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2020/01/09/germany-seven-year-sentence-for/

2021:

Germany – 3 years and 9 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2021/03/04/germany-convictions-and-fines-for-russian-exports/

2022:

Netherlands – 6 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2022/02/04/netherlands-6-month-custodial-sentence/
Netherlands – 1 year and six months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2022/06/28/netherlands-18-month-sentence-for-exports-to-iran/
Netherlands – 2 years and 6 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2022/08/31/netherlands-30-month-custodial-sentence-for-breach-of-isis-sanctions/
Germany – 1 year and 7 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2022/11/17/germany-conviction-for-importing-timber-from-myanmar-referred-to-cjeu/

2023:

Germany – 5 years: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2023/08/30/germany-conviction-for-exporting-drone-parts-to-russia/
Netherlands – 1 year and 6 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2023/11/01/netherlands-custodial-sentence-and-corporate-fine/

2024:

Finland – 40 days: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2024/02/14/finland-conviction-of-russian-national-for-breach-of-the-eu-travel-ban/
Netherlands – 4 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2024/04/19/netherlands-four-month-prison-sentence-for-breach-of-isis-sanctions/
Germany – 6 years and 9 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2024/07/18/germany-two-individuals-convicted-of-electronics-exports-to-russia/
Netherlands – 4 years: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2024/09/12/netherlands-conviction-for-breach-of-isis-sanctions-upheld-by-court-of-appeal/
Netherlands – 2 years and 8 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2024/10/07/netherlands-two-years-and-eight-months-sentence-for-exporting-sanctioned-goods-to-russian-airlines/
Germany – 7 years: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2024/11/08/germany-seven-year-sentence-for-exports-of-military-and-dual-use-goods-to-russia-and-confiscation-of-profits/
Netherlands – 1 year and 3 months: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2024/11/11/netherlands-conviction-and-confiscation-for-exporting-sanctioned-goods-to-russian-companies/

Overall the figures are dominated by the Netherlands and Germany with approximately 68 of the 80 years of sentences between them. Indeed, as the graph below demonstrates, other than Finland’s 40-day sentence for breaching a travel ban, the Netherlands and Germany are the only European countries to have sent someone to prison for sanctions offences since 2019.

June 28, 2024 by Mark Handley

Italy – investigation into financial transfers to Russia

As part of its Annual Report, the Unità di Informazione Finanziaria per l’Italia within the Bank of Italy has announced investigations into suspicions of illicit money flows from Italy to Russia via third countries.

No further details are available at this time including the amounts at stake, the identities of the third countries, or whether a referral has been made to the criminal authorities.

It is also unclear whether the transfers are alleged to have been made for or on behalf of designated persons.

June 25, 2024 by Mark Handley

Italy – seizure of Russian-origin military cargo bound for Libya

It is being reported that the Italian authorities, upon receipt of information from the US authorities, have conducted an operation in the Mediterranean to seize millions of dollars in unspecified military equipment on board the MSC Arina.

The goods are suspected of being exported to Libya in breach of the arms embargo that forms part of the UN sanctions.

The vessel had departed Shenzen, China in April and was allowed to continue after the cargo in question was removed.

It is being reported that the equipment was destined for General Khalifa’s forces in eastern Libya.

June 14, 2024 by Mark Handley

Italy – arrest of individual who assisted avoidance of extradition to US

Further to our earlier post, it is being reported that the Italian authorities have today arrested a Russian national on suspicion of providing assistance to Artem Uss who fled Italy after a court had ordered his extradition to the United States to face charges relating to breaches of US sanctions against Venezuela.

The individual has been identified as Dmitry Chirakadze who was arrested at Rome’s airport.

December 5, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Croatia – arrest on a US warrant related to Russian sanctions breaches

The US authorities today have announced that a national of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been arrested in Croatia on a US arrest warrant on suspicion of obstructing justice.

The individual was named as Vladimir Jovancic. He is alleged to have assisted Artem Uss flee house arrest in Italy after an Italian court has ordered Uss to be extradited to face sanctions charges in the US.

November 17, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Italy – investigation into cash withdrawals by embassy staff

The Italian Financial Intelligence Unit is investigating cash withdrawals of €4.3m by staff of the Russian embassy in Rome, including withdrawals of over €100,000.

One line of inquiry is that the withdrawals are part of a sanctions evasion scheme.

December 10, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Italian authorities fine oligarch €500,000

It has been reported that Dmitry Mazepins, a designated person under the EU’s Russian sanctions has been fined €500,000 for unlawfully removing a frozen asset from Italy.

The asset in question was the yacht Aldabra which is said to have been sailed to Tunisia out of the reach of the EU’s sanctions.

April 29, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Italy – investigation into possible sanctions breaches

It has been reported that the Italian parliamentary intelligence committee, known as Copasair, is investigating a number of Italian companies suspected of breaching the EU’s sanctions against Russia.

No information has been published on the companies being investigated or the nature of the alleged offending.

July 13, 2017January 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Italy – sentences for arms exports to Iran and Libya

It has been reported today that a plea deal has been reached for the final two defendants in the Italian prosecution of arms exports to Libya and Iran in breach of EU sanctions and export controls.

Mario Di Leva negotiated 3 years and 8 months of imprisonment and a fine of €8000, and for Annamaria Fontana the sentence was 3 years and 6 months and a fine of €7000.

See our earlier post for the plea deal for the first defendant.