GlobalWide News
The Financial Times: A German businessman, identified as Ulli S, has been charged with smuggling engineering equipment worth millions of euros to Russia for manufacturing sniper rifles. This action contravenes the EU embargo that prohibits arms and dual-use equipment sales to Russia, enforced since 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Ulli S allegedly used a network of shell companies in Switzerland and Lithuania to conceal the equipment sales to a Russian arms company. Between 2015-16, he reportedly shipped six specialist German machines valued at around €2 million to Russia.
The case highlights the increased efforts by Russia to illicitly source components and machinery for its military endeavors, especially after the invasion of Ukraine in February last year. German prosecutors claim Ulli S was fully aware of the intended use of the machines and had established a corporate chain for plausible deniability. He is accused of sending employees to Russia to install and calibrate these machines at the arms manufacturer’s facilities and training Russian workers to use them.
Additionally, Ulli S is alleged to have shipped four sniper rifles from Russia to Germany in 2015, breaching sanctions rules. He reportedly manipulated the contract dates to appear before the EU embargo. Ulli S was arrested in France in August and transferred to Germany for questioning. The case underlines the growing concern about Russia’s ability to circumvent export bans, with countries like Switzerland becoming focal points for such illegal activities.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.ft.com/content/47a2dbdf-3f2e-4734-a743-c68daff2ea4e
