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.
Lithuanian authorities commence criminal investigations into 9 companies and 95 investigations
It was reported today, that the Lithuanian State Consumer Rights Protection Authority has undertaken investigations into 95 Lithuanian companies on suspicion of importing Russian timber products in breach of current Russian and Belarusian sanctions.
The allegation is that the goods were being mislabelled as being of Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan origin.
Of those companies investigated nine have now been reported to prosecutors.
Switzerland – revised enforcement statistics: 130 cases
Further to our earlier post that the Swiss had nearly 100 sanctions investigations, the Swiss authorities have provided an update.
The number of investigations conducted by SECO (the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs) is now 130, with 29 of those referred for criminal prosecution.
Latvia – conviction and fine for imports in breach of Belarus sanctions
The Latvian State Prosecution Service has announced a conviction of a man for importing 13 packages of wooden sleepers and 8kg of nails from Belarus in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
The fine imposed was €6,200. As part of the sentencing the man was prohibited from importing any goods from Belarus for a year.
A co-accused was earlier sentenced to pay a fine of €5,000.
Malta – company and director acquitted of breach of Russian sanctions
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.
Spain – two arrested for alleged military exports to Russia
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.
Germany – company fined €1.3m for export of machinery to Russia
It has been reported today that a German company from Schleswig-Holstein has been convicted of breaching the EU’s sanctions against Russia for the illegal export of machinery that was used to help build the Kerch bridge.
The equipment was a hydraulic hammer used for driving in the piles for the bridge. The fine was imposed by the District Court in Kiel.
Switzerland – nearly 100 criminal investigations for sanctions breaches
The Swiss authorities have this week provided some statistics on their ongoing sanctions enforcement efforts.
They have reported a total of 100 investigations. Of those:
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- 13 investigations have been concluded without charge;
- 23 have had criminal proceedings commenced; and
- 60 cases remain under investigation.
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While most of these relate to Russia, at least two relate to Belarus sanctions.
The majority of the investigations are said to relate to trade sanctions rather than financial sanctions.
Netherlands – 45 ongoing Russian sanctions investigations
The Dutch authorities today announced that they have 45 ongoing criminal investigations into Russian sanctions breaches.
Of these 29 involve violations of import and export sanctions and 16 relate to breaches of financial sanctions.
Denmark – investigation confirmed into possible exports to Russia
It has been reported today that the Danish authorities are investigating into possible breaches of the EU’s sanctions against Russia by the insulation maker Rockwool.
The investigation was instigated after media reporting of the use of Rockwool products in Russia between 2015 and 2020.