Four people have been arrested in Germany in the case of supplies of dual-use goods to Russia, which could be used by enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. This is reported by Rolitico on 18 May with reference to the investigation materials.
According to the publication, among the detainees are Nikita S., whom investigators believe to be the key organizer of the scheme, as well as Eugene R., Daniel A. and Boris M. They are accused of violating export laws, circumvention of sanctions and participation in a criminal organization. Those arrested could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
According to the investigation, Global Trade, a company registered in Lübeck, Germany, played a central role in the scheme. Over the course of four years, about 16,000 deliveries worth more than 30 million euros passed through the network. At the same time, the actual coordinator of the purchases was the Russian company Kolovrat, which is under US sanctions.
Among the goods are microcontrollers, electronic components, sensors, measuring equipment, bearings and other dual-use products. Investigators were able to link some of the shipments to Russian defence companies and nuclear research-related organisations.
According to the investigation, Kolovrat employees accessed Global Trade email accounts and corresponded with European suppliers on behalf of German managers, placing orders and requesting quotations.
Formally, the shipments were most often sent to Turkey, where they were received by MR Global, and then the products were transported to Russia. According to the case file, in some cases there were less than ten days between exports from the EU and imports to Russia.
The investigation began after the German Federal Intelligence Service gained access to internal documents of Kolovrat. The investigators had at their disposal accounts, correspondence and delivery data that allowed them to reconstruct the chain of purchases and movement of goods through Europe and Turkey to Russia, according to Politico.
Following Russia’s missile strike on Kiev that killed 24 people, President Zelensky said Moscow was continuing to obtain needed components to circumvent Western sanctions.
Russia’s Kh-101 strategic cruise missile, which struck a residential building, is critically dependent on foreign electronic components because Russia’s own industry is unable to manufacture high-tech microelectronics.