The Bulgarian authorities have charged five individuals on suspicion of exporting military goods to Russia valued at more than €2 million in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
The goods are said to be optical sights, binoculars, aeronautical radio communication systems, ballistic calculators and software.
In total 12 people were arrested, but so far only 5 have been charged.
It was reported today that the Finnish Central Criminal Police are investigating a Finnish company for exports to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
The investigation was commenced in 2019, with the offences alleged to have taken place between 2016 and 2020.
The exports were of technology destined for use by arms manufacturers in Russia. It is also alleged that the Finnish company was controlled, albeit not owned, by a designated person under the EU’s Russian sanctions.
It is being reported (behind a paywall) that an individual has been convicted by the Koblenz Regional Court for exporting engines for the “Altius” drones to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.
The 62-year old unidentified individual was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has issued a press release relating to charges against Vadim Konoshchenok, who was arrested in Estonia and extradited to the US.
Konoshchenok is charged with exporting US-made goods to Russia.
According to the release, Konoshchenok was arrested in Estonia in December 2022 attempting to smuggle into Russia 35 different electronic components including US-made controlled products.
Earlier efforts to export ammunition to Russia had resulted in the seizure of half a ton of material.
It has been reported today that the Czech authorities are currently investigating the activities of the Czech company Labara. It is suspected that the company has been exporting machinery which can be used for the manufacture of weaponry to Russia via Turkey.
The UK’s HMRC has today announced compound penalties imposed on four exporters. Two related to military goods and two to dual-use goods.
The exporters were not named.
The penalties imposed were:
It has been reported today that a prosecution in Malta for allegedly breaching the EU’s sanctions against Russia has ended in acquittal.
The investigation commenced in 2019 after a bank submitted a suspicious activity report.
The transaction at the heart of the case was the export of 142 pallets of ammunition from Russia to Morocco via a Maltese company; Donna Shipping Company Limited.
The company and one of its directors, Karl David Mallia, a qualified accountant were both prosecuted, but not any of the other directors of the company.
The court held that there was insufficient evidence that Mallia had been involved in the particular transaction.
It has been reported today that the Spanish authorities have arrested two individuals, a Russian national and a Ukrainian national, on suspicion of exporting military goods to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.
The investigation was started in 2021 nad has involved a number of raids. The goods in question were exported through third countries but destined for the Russian aeronautical sector.
The UK’s HMRC has today announced the imposition of compound penalties on four UK exporters. Those companies were not named.
Little information is provided but the exports were all either dual-use goods or military goods.
The compound penalties which were imposed between November and December 2022, were:
The UK’s HMRC has today announced penalties imposed on twelve exporters. The exporters are not named and the details of the offending are limited but the exports all related to either dual-use or military goods.
The penalties imposed were:
