Russia – European Sanctions Enforcement

January 2, 2026 by Mark Handley

Poland – 5 arrested on suspicion of importing sanctioned Russian and Belarusian timber

Poland’s Customs and Tax Service has conducted raids and arrested five individuals suspected of importing Russian and Belarusian birch plywood under falsified papers to make it appear that the timber was of Kazakh or Turkish origin.

The five individuals have been named as:

Franciszek B. (64 years old, Polish citizen)

Marian K. (48 years old, Polish citizen)

Piotr K. (56 years old, Polish citizen)

Aleksander P. (43 years old, Russian citizen) and

Sergey M. (57 years old, Russian citizen).

The imports are alleged to have taken place between 2022 and 2024.

The investigation was aided by materials from OLAF (the European Anti-Fraud Office) and from the response to a mutual legal assistance request provided by Kazakhstan.

The suspects have all been charged but have been release pending trial.

January 2, 2026January 2, 2026 by Mark Handley

Finland – investigation into steel cargo on seized Russian vessel

Finnish Customs are investigating the cargo of structural steel found on board the vessel Fitburg, that has been detained as part of a wider investigation into suspected damage to an undersea cable that runs between Helsinki and Tallinn.

The Russian steel was on board the vessel that departed St Petersburg before the ship was detained. The steel is subject to import prohibitions under the EU’s Russian sanctions.

January 2, 2026January 2, 2026 by Mark Handley

Germany – €10 million payment to settle sanctions investigation into Usmanov

Prosecutors in Germany have settled their investigation and prosecution of Alisher Usmanov for suspected breaches of EU sanctions.

The settlement involves a payment of €10 million but no admission of liability.

The investigation related to allegations of payments made by or on behalf Usmanov, a designated person, in relation the provision of security for two properties in Germany.

December 23, 2025 by Mark Handley

Lithuania – raids as part of investigation into sanctioned exports to Russia and Belarus

It is being reported (here and here) that Lithuania’s Financial Crime Investigation Service and the State Security Department, with coordinating assistance from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, are undertaking an investigation into suspected breaches of the EU’s Russian and Belarus sanctions by Lithuanian, Russian and Belarus individuals.

It is alleged that those involved forged documents to obtain funding from the EU Space Agency, and that the money was then used (with other funds) by a company incorporated in Lithuania to obtain and export microchips, semiconductors, navigation systems, and other technical devices to Russia and Belarus.

In total 10 raids were conducted, and 5 individuals and one company are under investigation.

December 23, 2025December 23, 2025 by Mark Handley

Sweden – Customs board distressed Russian vessel in Swedish waters

After a Russian vessel had engine trouble and entered Swedish territorial waters, Swedish Customs boarded the vessel and commenced an investigation into whether possible sanctions or export control offences may have been committed.

The vessel, the Adler, is designated under EU sanctions, and the owner sanctioned by the US. It is reported that the cargo included arms and military equipment.

It is now being reported that the vessel has been allowed to depart Swedish waters, after the Prosecutor’s Office declined to open a criminal investigation, on the basis that there was no intent to being the vessel or its goods into Sweden.

December 23, 2025December 23, 2025 by Mark Handley

Latvia – raids and arrest for alleged sanctions breaches

It is being reported that Latvia’s State Security Service conducted a number of raids, and arrested an individual suspected of breaching the EU’s sanctions against Russia.

It is being reported that the individual is Viktors Guščins, who is alleged to have provided an economic resource to a designated person in the form of publications and propaganda material.

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – report that there are 6,000 criminal proceedings for Russian and Belarus sanctions breaches ongoing

It is being reported in an article published in trans.info that the German authorities currently have approximately 6000 criminal proceedings for sanctions offences that are ongoing.

This number is said to be specific to the EU’s Russian and Belarusian sanctions regimes.

No further information is provided on the status of the cases.

December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Mark Handley

Latvia – prosecution for providing professional services to Russian companies

Latvia’s VDD has asked the Prosecution Office to commence a prosecution of a latvian national for providing prohibited services to companies in Russia.

As per the press release: “DD found that the Latvian citizen had entered into employment contracts with multiple companies registered in Russia, where the person held the positions of general director and director and directly gave prohibited consultations on economic activities, management and taxation”.

This prosecution is one of several recently launched in Latvia (see our earlier post) in relation to alleged breaches of the prohibitions contained in regulation 5n of 833/2014.

December 3, 2025December 3, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – investigation into businesses alleged to have exported €10m in luxury cars to Russia

It is being reported that the Munich Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a number of businesses suspected of exporting 50 luxury cars to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The cars are said to be valued at €10 million, including one car fitted with armour valued at €650,000.

The report alleges that the exports were done via third countries including Kazakhstan.

December 3, 2025December 3, 2025 by Mark Handley

Netherlands – raids and arrests as part of investigation into sanctioned exports to Russia

The Dutch FIOD has issued a press release announcing raids on business and residential premises and the arrest of two individuals aged 39 and 60.

A company, and the two individuals, are suspected of exporting sanctioned goods to Russia via third countries in breach of the EU’s sanctions.