German Citizen Sentenced To Prison For Selling Military Drone Parts To Russia

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - A German court sentenced a German-Russian dual state citizen to six years and nine months in prison for selling electronic goods to Russian companies for military purposes that violate sanctions.

The European Union banned such a business after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and sanctions have increased since Moscow launched a massive invasion of its neighboring country in 2022.

As reported by Reuters on Wednesday, July 17, Stuttgart's court said the 59-year-old sent 120,000 parts to Russia that could be used for military purposes between January 2020 and May 2023.

These parts include those used in the Orlan-10 drone Russia deployed to fight Ukraine, the court said.

After the war began in 2022, the defendant tried to disguise the sale to Russian companies with invoices and shipping documents for destinations such as Hong Kong and Turkey, the court said.

The court, when making a decision, said it took into account the criminal impact it had imposed - particularly in the form of avoiding sanctions after February 2022 - as well as a long transaction period and wide scope.

The court did not name the individual according to German privacy habits but said he admitted his crimes and expressed regret. His 54-year-old colleague received a shorter trial sentence.