Latvia – Page 2 – European Sanctions Enforcement

January 18, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – importer referred to criminal authorities

It has been reported today that the Latvian National Regional Development Agency (the “VRAA”) has referred the Latvian company LLC Lanekss to the criminal authorities for investigation.

The allegations arise out of LLC Lanekss being a seller of products on Latvia’s electronic public procurement sale platform – the EIS.

The Latvian state broadcaster (LTV) purchased tea through the EIS which when delivered was stated to have been manufactured in Russia.

As article 5k of EU regulation 833/2014 prohibits the award of a contract within the scope of the EU’s Public Procurement legislation to a Russian company or individual, or a company more than 50% owned by a Russian company or individual, the VRAA has referred the case to law enforcement for investigation.

December 22, 2023March 19, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – criminal proceedings commenced and raids in Riga for alleged Russian sanctions breaches

The Latvian VDD has announced that it has carried out raids in Moscow House in Riga on 21 and 22 December with significant data and document seized.

A criminal case has been initiated against one individual.

December 11, 2023February 27, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – raids and arrests for dual-use sanctions investigation

The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) has today announced a series of six raids and two arrests in Riga which took place on 4 December 2023 in relation to a criminal investigation into a Latvian company suspected of exporting electronic components to Russia.

The goods are reported to have been valued at €500,000.

The company was not named and nor were the individuals.

October 16, 2023February 27, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – raids as part of alleged military exports to Russia

The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) has announced today that on 13 and 14 October it undertook raids at five premises in Riga collecting evidence and seizing over €500,000 in cash.

The investigation relates to alleged breaches of the EU’s sanctions by supplying resources to the Russian military.

The subject(s) of the investigation were not named.

September 18, 2023February 27, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – two prosecutions for Russian and Belarusian sanctions breaches

The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) has announced that it has forwarded a case to the Prosecution Service for the initiation of criminal proceedings relating to the export of luxury goods to Russian in breach of EU sanctions.

The luxury good in question was a car.

In another announcement today, the VDD has announced the referral of another case for prosecution relating to the import of iron and steel products from Belarus in breach of EU sanctions.

September 12, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvian enforcement: 14 ongoing criminal prosecutions

In response to questions about Russian sanctions enforcement the Latvian authorities have confirmed that they have 14 ongoing criminal prosecutions of which three relate to exports, including circumvention of sanctions by routing exports through China and central Asia, and the others to breaches of financial sanctions.

The Latvian authorities also stated they received 281 suspicious activity reports during 2022 in relation to Russian sanctions, and had received 309 so far in 2023.

April 24, 2023February 27, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – conviction and fine for imports in breach of Belarus sanctions

The Latvian State Prosecution Service has announced a conviction of a man for importing 13 packages of wooden sleepers and 8kg of nails from Belarus in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The fine imposed was €6,200. As part of the sentencing the man was prohibited from importing any goods from Belarus for a year.

A co-accused was earlier sentenced to pay a fine of €5,000.

January 5, 2023March 19, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – man arrested on suspicion of providing economic resources to designated person

Latvia’s Intelligence Services (the VDD) have arrested a Latvian national, reported as Marat Kasem.

The alleged offence is the provision of “economic resources” to a designated person, or an asset owned or controlled by such a person.

The designated person is Dmitry Kiselev, who is the Director General of Rossiya Segodnya which in turn owns a number of broadcast channels including Sputnik and Baltnews.

Mr Kasem is alleged to have provided the “economic resources” by way of being employed by these channels in Lithuania.

December 19, 2022March 19, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – criminal prosecution commenced for providing economic resources to designated person

The Latvian VDD (Intelligence Services) have announced that they have referred a case to criminal prosecution relating to the provision of “economic resources to another person, who is subject to EU sanctions”.

No further details of the alleged offending were provided.

December 16, 2022February 27, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – prosecution for exports to Russia

The Latvian authorities have announced the prosecution of a man for the attempted export of goods to a company in Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The exports (described as “conditioning equipment”) were stopped by the Customs Service.