Russia – Page 23 – European Sanctions Enforcement

October 24, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Romania – fine and confiscation overturned

The Romanian company Liberty Galati has successfully overturned an administrative fine and the confiscation of over 7.6 million lei (c. €1.5m).

The alleged breach of EU sanctions related to a shipment of iron ore pellets which left Russian on 22 February 2022, and arrived in Romania on 25 February 2022. The seller of the pellets was Metalloinvest, which is owned or controlled by Alisher Usmanov who was designated on 28 February 2022. The pellets were on-sold in Romania on 1 March 2022.

The initial fine and confiscation was based on the allegation that it was a breach of the EU’s sanctions to deal with Metalloinvest in this way. The court disagreed and held that Liberty Galati had taken title to the pellets on 22 February at a time that Metalloinvest was not subject to sanctions.

October 19, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Norway – Russian arrested for flight in Norwegian airspace

The Norwegian authorities have arrested a Russian for flying a drone within Norwegian airspace in breach of the ban on Russian flights.

The man is reported to be Andrey Yakunin, the son of the former head of the Russian Railways.

October 19, 2022February 19, 2024 by Mark Handley

Estonia – one arrested for suspected breach of US sanctions

The US Department of Justice has announced the multiple charges against individuals and companies relating to an attempt to export US-origin industrial equipment (a jig grinder) with military application to Russia.

The companies charged are CNC Weld (incorporated in Latvia) and BY Trade OU (incorporated in Estonia).

Stanislav Romanyuk is one the individuals. He was arrested in Estonia on 13 June 2022 for extradition to the US.

As part of the same investigation others were arrested in Latvia – see here.

October 19, 2022February 19, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – three arrested to face charges of breaching US sanctions

The companies charged are CNC Weld (incorporated in Latvia) and BY Trade OU (incorporated in Estonia).

Janis Uzbalis, Vadims Ananics, Eriks Mamonovs are three of the individuals. They were arrested in Latvia on 18 October 2022 for extradition to the US.

As part of the same investigation others were arrested in Estonia – see here.

October 12, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK – man arrested for extradition to face US sanctions charges

The UK authorities have arrested a man, Graham Bonham-Carter, as part of an extradition request from the US authorities.

The man is alleged to have conspired to breach US sanctions for and on behalf of Oleg Deripaska.

October 7, 2022April 3, 2024 by Mark Handley

Netherlands – man arrested on suspicion of unlawful exports to Russia

The Dutch authorities have announced the arrest of a 55-year old on suspicion of exporting dual-use microchips to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

Searches were carried out at a number of premises.

The man is alleged to have falsified the end-user information for the exports.

October 5, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Austria – 3 individuals and 7 companies punished for non-compliance

It has been reported today that the Austrian State Protection Director has confirmed that three individuals and seven companies have been prosecuted for non-compliance with Russia sanctions.

No further details were provided.

September 27, 2022March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK’s OFSI imposes EU Russian sanctions civil penalty

OFSI today announced that it had imposed a civil penalty for breach of the UK’s Russian sanctions.

The penalty notice is available here.

The fine was imposed on Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition Limited (HKIWS), and was just £30,000.

The conduct in question was the receipt of funds and goods from a designated person. The goods in question were wine bottles. HKIWS was also found to have made “economic resources” available to a designated person. This was in the form of publicity, and illustrates OFSI’s wide view of what amounts to the making available of an economic resource.

September 27, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK – investigation into possible sanctions offences by Petr Aven

It has been reported today that the UK’s National Crime Agency is investigating possible sanctions breaches by six companies and individuals associated with Petr Aven who is a designated person under the UK’s sanctions.

The authorities have obtained Account Freezing Orders over two accounts allegedly holding £1.5 million and these orders are being challenged by Mr Aven.

September 22, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – Munich prosecutor investigates alleged sanctions breaches

It has been reported that the Munich state prosecutor has conducted comprehensive raids at the residence of a Russian citizen and four other suspects.

The Russian national is suspected of having recruited a security firm to observe properties in Upper Bavaria financially linked to him, and that the payments made to the firm were in breach of the asset freeze imposed on this designated person.

Also being investigated are the security firm and its staff.

The designated person has been named as Alisher Usmanov but this is a different investigation to the one we have separately reported.