Illegal Exports - Penalties for exporting drone components to Russia
Due to the illegal delivery of components for drones to Russia, the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court sentenced a former businessman from Saarland to six years and nine months in prison. The goods had a military application, ruled the Senate. Against the co-defendant, the living partner of the man from Baden-Württemberg, a probation sentence of 21 months was imposed for accessory. The court's ruling corresponded to the demands of the Federal Prosecutor's Office. Both defendants, according to the court, held both German and Russian citizenship.
The customer of the accused duo in Russia produced, according to the court, military material and accessories. This also included the "Orlan 10" drone used by the Russian military in the Ukraine. The delivered electronic components, such as converters, amplifiers or also transistors, were reportedly part of this drone type and covered by the Russian embargo of the European Union.
The components, such as converters, amplifiers, or also transistors, were reportedly purchased in Germany, as the presiding judge stated. False recipients were then indicated. It was supposed to create the impression that the components remained in Germany. However, the counterparts were delivered to a company in St. Petersburg, among others. After the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022, the EU strengthened its sanctions again. The man and the woman adapted their business model and exported the components over Turkey, China, or the United Arab Emirates to Russia.
Court: Sanctions evaded persistently
The defendant persistently evaded sanctions, said the judge. He had secured a continuous source of income and considered giving up his part-time job at a railway company in the Saarland to focus entirely on exports. The man is believed to have violated the Foreign Trade Act in dozens of cases. The illegally exported components were reportedly worth around 875,000 Euros.
For the man, the defense pleaded for a prison sentence of not more than four years. The woman's lawyer joined the application of the Federal Prosecutor for a probation sentence.
- The trial in the Process (Court) in Baden-Württemberg involved charges of criminality related to the illegal export of drone components to Russia.
- The court ruled that the components had a military application and were used in the Ukraine, specifically with the "Orlan 10" drone used by the Russian military.
- The components were purchased in Germany and falsely labeled with German recipients, but they were actually delivered to a company in St. Petersburg, Russia.
- The defense argued that the man from Saarland should receive a prison sentence of no more than four years, while the woman's lawyer supported the Federal Prosecutor's Office's request for a probation sentence.
- After the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022, the EU strengthened its sanctions, forcing the accused duo to export the components through Turkey, China, or the United Arab Emirates.
- The defendant, a former businessman from Saarland, was found to have persistently evaded EU sanctions and had a consistent source of income, leading him to quit his part-time job in Saarland.
- The court-imposed fine on the duo totaled over 875,000 Euros for violating the Foreign Trade Act and exporting illegal components to Russia.
- The co-defendant, the living partner of the man from Baden-Württemberg, was given a probation sentence of 21 months for her role as an accessory in the criminal activity.
