We asked the Foreign Ministry’s sanctions team how European component parts can end up in Russia’s possession despite the sanctions.
British newspaper The Guardian reported that he had gotten his hands on it The document submitted by Ukraine to the G-7 countries in August, according to which the kamikaze planes used by Russia are filled with components from European companies.
52 pieces of electronic components manufactured by Western companies were found in the Iranian-made Shahed-131 and Shahed-57 airplanes.
The 47-page document names five European companies as component manufacturers. In addition, parts of US, Japanese and Canadian manufacturers were found in the airplanes.
Now there is an attempt to transfer the production of drones manufactured in Iran to Yelabuga in the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, the document reveals. Iran has denied that its airplanes are manufactured in Russia.
“We miss whenever we can”
Team leader of the sanctions team of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland Pia Sarivaara assures that the EU controls the export of products and pays special attention to countries that are at risk of evading sanctions.
– European goods can be transported to Russia despite the sanctions, if transit is circumvented. In this case, the goods remain in Russia, even if they are destined for Kazakhstan, for example, says Sarivaara.
According to him, the cases where the product ends up in Russia are complex and difficult chains to unravel.
– We intervene whenever we can, but unfortunately Russia still gets hold of products intended for other countries.
According to Sarivaara, companies have a great responsibility to find out where, for example, Finnish products end up.
– According to our observation, it can happen that a Finnish company sells to Europe to another EU member state, but from there it ends up in Russia via a third country, says Sarivaara.
During September, two Finnish companies ended up on the US sanctions list against Russia.
Companies are US Treasury Department including supplied foreign electronic products to Russia, such as cameras used in drones, efficient optical filters and lithium batteries.
According to Pia Sarivaara, sanctions are circumvented especially through China and Hong Kong. According to him, Russian companies have created multi-generational structures in China, which are used to circumvent sanctions. Other such countries are, for example, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
Customs has “hundreds” of investigations related to extortion crimes
According to Sarivaara, Finnish customs has possibly hundreds of investigations related to extortion crimes currently underway.
According to him, new companies, courier companies or logistics operators can be integral parts of the chains of evasion of sanctions. Even old companies that are brought back to life after a long break can be among the companies that evade sanctions.
– There are many different patterns. The investigating authorities have quite a challenge to keep up with these, says Sarivaara.
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