3 weeks ago
Austrian court convicts Belarusians over supplying Russian arms industry
Two cousins from Belarus helped send special machines and tools to Russia.
These machines can be used to make parts for missiles and fighter jets, which is why sending them was against the law.
A court in Vienna, Austria, found them guilty.
The man, who is 28 years old, was the director of a company in Vienna.
He got a sentence of 21 months in prison, but 19 of those months were suspended, so he did not have to stay in jail.
The woman, who is 24 years old, got a suspended sentence too.
They said they were sorry in court.
The man said his father and uncle told him to do it.
Police found that more than €3.3 million worth of goods had been sent to Russian arms makers since 2022.
An Austrian court convicted two Belarusian cousins of violating export controls by supplying equipment to Russian companies.
Austria's government says the equipment was used to make military items like engines for missiles and fighter jets.
The 28-year-old male defendant received a 21-month prison sentence (19 suspended) and was released on time served; the 24-year-old woman got a 15-month suspended sentence.
The pair used shell companies in third countries and faked end-user certificates to ship special metalworking tools and CNC machines to Russia.
Both pleaded guilty and declined to appeal; evidence indicated industrial goods worth more than €3.3 million had been delivered to Russian arms manufacturers since 2022.
- Who
- Two Belarusian cousins — a 28-year-old man who directed a Vienna-based firm and a 24-year-old woman who handled the company's accounts — convicted by an Austrian court.
- What
- Convicted of violating export controls by supplying special metalworking tools and CNC machines to Russian companies, which Austria's government says were used to make military items such as engines for missiles and fighter jets.
- Where
- Vienna, Austria.
- When
- Wednesday, Aug 12; the scheme had operated since 2022, and the man had been in custody since his arrest in May.
- Why
- The goods, worth more than €3.3 million, were delivered to Russian arms manufacturers and could be used to make parts for missiles and fighter jets; the defendants pleaded guilty.
Key facts
- Court
- Austrian court (Vienna)
- Defendants
- Two unnamed Belarusian cousins (28-year-old man and 24-year-old woman)
- Charges
- Violating export controls by supplying equipment to Russian companies
- Sentence (male)
- 21 months' prison, 19 suspended; released on time served
- Sentence (female)
- 15-month suspended sentence
- Goods shipped
- Special metalworking tools and CNC machines
- Value of goods
- More than €3.3 million delivered since 2022
- Method
- Shell companies in third countries and faked end-user certificates
Quotes
Main defendant
The 28‑year‑old defendant who pleaded guilty
“I am truly sorry for the whole situation”
theprint.in
Sources
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