Dutch Court Sentences Businessman to Prison for Violating EU Export Controls on Russia

The Rotterdam District Court on Oct. 31 sentenced an unnamed Russian businessman to an 18-month prison term for violating the EU's Russia sanctions, according to an unofficial translation. The charges against the man include selling dual-use goods, including a "certain type of integrated circuit" and drones to Russian companies, along with selling, delivering, transferring and exporting nine other integrated circuit types to the same unnamed Russian companies.

The court found the person guilty of exporting the integrated circuits to Russian companies but acquitted him of the charge related to the sale of drones. The court looked to invoices between the man and the companies, along with email contacts between the parties.

The businessman was complicit in violating EU sanctions, forgery and intentionally using a forged document, sentencing him to prison, the court said. It also ordered the continued seizure of his computer and various phones but ordered the return of his seized money.