In line with the parallel example from Lithuania, the Latvian authorities have imposed their first fine for breach of the ban on Russian registered vehicles.
The driver was fined €750 and the car was confiscated.
Latvia – 7789 Russian and Belarusian sanctions breaches detected
The Director of the Customs Administration within the Latvian State Revenue Service (VID) has been reported as saying that a total of 7,789 violations of sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus were detected during 2023.
It is unclear what the Customs Administration did with these detected breaches, and whether those involved were investigated, charged or prosecuted.
We have previously reported that Latvia has, to date, commenced 310 criminal prosecutions and obtained a total of 7 convictions for sanctions offences.
Latvia – sanctions raids and inspections into Russian timber imports
The Latvian State Security Service has today announced multiple raids and inspections took place last week in relation to an ongoing criminal investigation into plywood imports into Latvia where counterfeit documents mask the Russian or Belarusian origin of the products in favour of false origins in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
The importation of many timber products is prohibited under the EU’s Russian sanctions.
The report notes that the criminal proceedings were commenced in November 2023.
It is unclear whether this investigation in Latvia is related to a similar investigation into plywood imports being undertaken in Lithuania. See our earlier post.
UPDATE: The Latvian VDD has now provided some further clarification of the location of the raids including the premises in Valmiera of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Latvia – further sanctions enforcement statistics including seven convictions
The Latvian authorities have provided a further update to their enforcement efforts. As reported:
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- 281 sanctions-related suspicious activity reports in 2022
- 510 sanctions-related suspicious activity reports in 2023
- 310 criminal cases commenced
- 22 prosecutions in which the trial has started
- 7 convictions to date.
Of the convictions, all involved guilty pleas and all involved Latvian nationals. The highest penalty related to the export of a luxury car, and the fine was €170,000.
The conduct prosecuted included in relation to the sale of a professional footballer to a club owned by a company designated under Belarus sanctions, and the provision of content to the Russian Federal News Agency.
UPDATE: It has now (18 March 2024) been reported that the fine imposed in relation to providing economic resources to the Russian news agency in the form of employment services, was €15,500.
Latvia – announcement of 258 ongoing criminal prosecutions
In an earlier post we reported that the Latvian authorities had 14 ongoing criminal prosecutions.
This morning, Raimonds Zukuls of the Latvian State Revenue Service has given an interview announcing that 114 criminal cases were opened during 2022 and a further 144 cases were opened during 2023.
These cases all concern the EU’s Russian and Belarusian sanctions. It was also said that most cases relate to electrical goods, car parts, luxury goods, timber products, fuel, fodder and metal products.
It was also stated that over 5,000 imports/exports had been stopped by the State Revenue Service.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.