Russia – Page 2 – European Sanctions Enforcement

February 26, 2026February 26, 2026 by Mark Handley

Belgium – trial of three individuals for dual-use exports to Russia

Further to our post from last week regarding the prosecution of a Russian national in Belgium, for Russian sanctions breaches, it is now being reported that the prosecution is targeting three individuals.

The second suspect is the son of Viktor Labin (the first defendant). He is said to be currently living in Russia and the subject of an international arrest warrant.

The third suspect is currently out in bail.

The dual-use goods said to have been exported to Russia include iron, alumina, yttrium oxide, and explosive propagation detectors.

February 25, 2026February 25, 2026 by Mark Handley

Poland – six individuals charged with exporting drone-making machinery to Russia

Poland’s Internal Security Agency has issued a press release announcing that six individuals have been charged on suspicion of exporting machinery for the manufacture of drones to Russia, via Belarus, in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The charges follow raids conducted on 18 February.

The individuals include 4 Belarus nationals and two Poles, and the machinery is described as a device for the production of integrated circuits.

Three of the suspects have been ordered to remain in custody, while the other three were released on bail subject to supervision and a ban on leaving Poland.

February 25, 2026February 25, 2026 by Mark Handley

France – in absentia trial of shadow tanker’s captain to start on Monday

Further to our earlier post on the French seizure of the “shadow fleet” tanker “Boracay” off western France in September 2025, it is now being reported that the trial of the captain is due to commence on Monday.

The trial is taking place in absentia, with the captain Chen Zhangjie – a Chinese national – not attending the trial in the town of Brest.

The charges allege that the Captain refused to comply with a lawful order from the French Navy to allow the inspection of the vessel.

Mr Zhangjie is represented in the trial, and it is being reported that the defence will include arguments that French law and French jurisdiction do not apply.

February 23, 2026February 24, 2026 by Mark Handley

Sweden – closed criminal investigation into alleged Russian funds transfers

Press reporting of a civil dispute between Sweden’s SEB Bank and certain Russian customers associated with Olga Pavlova, the Vice-Chair of Gazprom, and relating to attempts to transfer SEK 60 million, has revealed that the same transfers had been the subject of now-concluded a preliminary criminal investigation in Sweden.

It is unclear when the investigation took place, or the basis for the conclusion that no crime had been committed.

February 20, 2026February 20, 2026 by Mark Handley

Bulgaria – extradition of Russian national to face US sanctions charges

It is being reported that the Bulgarian authorities have approved the extradition of Sergey Ivin who was arrested at Sofia Airport in October 2025.

Extradition has been sought following an indictment that he was involved in the sale of sanctioned metallurgical products between 2017 and 2021 valued at US$350 million.

Mr Ivin has denied the charges.

The same report notes that a second extradition request in the same case, for Oleg Olshansky, is still being considered in the Bulgarian courts.

February 20, 2026February 20, 2026 by Mark Handley

Belgium – prosecution for alleged sanctioned exports to Russian military

Following a raid conducted in June 2025, the Belgian authorities have detained Russian national Viktor Labin pending investigation of alleged breaches of Russian sanctions.

It is now being reported that trial in the prosecution is scheduled to begin on 26 February 2026.

It is alleged that he was responsible for exporting machinery and devices for use by the Russian military or in manufacturing.

February 18, 2026February 18, 2026 by Mark Handley

Sweden – man arrested for possible extradition to face US sanctions charges

It is being reported that Sweden’s Security Service, Säpo, conducted an operation in December involving raiding premises in Stockholm and arresting a Russian national for potential extradition to the US to face charges of breaching the US sanctions against Russia.

The Stockholm District Court has ordered the man’s detention pending extradition proceedings.

The alleged conduct is said to have taken place in 2022 and 2023 but no further details are available.

February 17, 2026February 17, 2026 by Mark Handley

France – company that owns the seized ‘Grinch’ tanker fined “millions”

The company that owns the oil tanker ‘Grinch’ has, according to a press release by the Prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhône pleaded guilty in a Marseilles court.

It is being reported that the company was fined several million euros.

The vessel has been allowed to leave French waters with its cargo intact.

The offence alleged was failing to provide proof of the ship’s flag status under article L 5233-2 of the French Transport Code.

February 13, 2026February 13, 2026 by Mark Handley

Latvia – prosecution for providing IT services to Russian company

The State Security Service of Latvia has announced the prosecution of an individual for providing programming services to a Russian company.

This is the fifth recent prosecution in Latvia either in relation to the provision of prohibited services under Regulation 833/2014, or the provision of services to a designated person with the services treated as an “economic resource” that breaches the imposed asset freeze (see October 2025, October 2025, December 2025, and December 2025).

The individual is also being prosecuted on the basis that his salary was paid into Alfa-Bank, which is a designated person under the EU’s sanctions, and that this constitute making funds available to that designated person.

February 11, 2026February 11, 2026 by Mark Handley

Latvia – 3 year sentence for attempted ammunition export to Russia

Further to our earlier post, it is being reported that the Estonian-Russian national prosecuted for attempting to export 10,000 rounds of ammunition to Russia hidden in a truck cab has been convicted.

He has been sentenced to 3 years in jail.

The verdict remains subject to appeal.