A Dutch construction equipment supplier will pay nearly $2 million after the Netherlands accused it of violating sanctions against Russia, the country’s public prosecutor office said last week. The Dieseko Group reached the settlement after the Netherlands said it sold pile drivers and related parts in 2015 and 2016 for the construction of the Crimean Bridge, which linked Russia and Crimea.
The Bureau of Industry and Security recently suspended the export privileges of four people, including two for violating U.S. restrictions against Russia and two others for illegal ammunition exports.
The Council of the European Union this week renewed until July 27, 2025, its sanctions on Iranian parties for supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. The restrictions apply to 12 people and nine entities, and were imposed on parties that supply unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles to the Russian military.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it opposes legislation planned by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., that could lead to new sanctions on Chinese military firms.
The EU last week called on traders to bolster their export compliance programs, warning that it plans to continue expanding its restrictions on Russia and will target more third-country customers illegally transshipping controlled items to Russia’s military.
The U.K. is investigating David Crisp, the manager of a luxury perfume brand, for allegedly exporting perfume to Russia in violation of U.K. sanctions, according to a civil judgment released this month by the U.K. High Court of Justice.
The Biden administration is having “a lot” of conversations with China to try to convince the country to stop shipping certain dual-use goods to Russia, and some of those conversations appear to be working, said Jay Shambaugh, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for international affairs. But Shambaugh also said the U.S. wants Beijing to do more, and the administration is analyzing whether its current trade and financial restrictions are strong enough.
Nikolay Goltsev of Montreal and Brooklyn, New York, resident Salimdzhon Nasriddinov pleaded guilty July 9 to conspiracy to commit export control violations. The two men shipped electronic components to sanctioned Russian companies, some of which were then found in "seized Russian weapons platforms and signals intelligence equipment in Ukraine," according to DOJ.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is recommending exporters, reexporters and other businesses add a new customer screening tool to their due diligence steps before trading in goods that could later be diverted to Russia’s military, especially for microelectronics and other sensitive goods Russia is looking to import. In new guidance published this week, BIS also clarified the specific compliance steps companies and universities should take if they receive a red-flag letter, an is-informed letter or other written warnings from the agency about certain risky customers or transactions.
Certain vessels targeted by the EU’s sanctions against Russia may use European ports and port services in special emergency scenarios, including to unload “dangerous or polluting goods,” the European Commission said in a recent frequently asked question. Those vessels can use EU ports “within a reasonable time” after being sanctioned, “and in any case not later than 30 days from the date of” their designation, the FAQ said.