The logo of the Russian energy corporation Lukoil on a tank car in Neder-Over-Heembeek, Brussels, Belgium, May 13, 2022. Getty Images/Thierry Monasse
As reported on air by the LTV channel, the deputy head of Latvia’s Financial Intelligence Service, Paulis Iljenkov, spoke about criminal cases arising from sanctions violations.
The deputy head of Latvia’s Financial Intelligence Service for sanctions issues, Paulis Ilyenkov, said that more than 600 criminal cases have been opened in the country for violations of sanctions against Russia. He disclosed these figures during a public address; according to the official, the situation regarding compliance with sanctions against the Russian Federation in Latvia remains positive.
“We must understand that the sanctions imposed on Russia are quite broad – from frozen assets in the EU to a ban on exporting champagne. As for sanctions that truly fuel Russia’s war machine – such as the export of military equipment and the transit of energy resources – there are almost no such violations in Latvia”
Details of sanctions and their impact
According to Ilyenkov, Latvia imposed sanctions on the Russian state oil company Rosneft as early as 2022. Therefore, there are no recorded violations of these sanctions regarding Russian energy supplies in the country.
Russia is also gradually withdrawing from business in Latvia. According to him, the company Lukoil has small interests in the country compared with other EU countries. He noted that in one EU country Lukoil has about 460 gas stations.
The Lukoil gas station network is represented in Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia – a candidate country for EU membership.
In sum, Ilyenkov stressed that sanction measures continue to operate in the region, and Latvia strictly adheres to the established restrictions, while also assessing their impact on the economy and security.
We recommend paying attention to:
- New US, UK, and EU sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil could cut Kremlin revenues by $5.5 billion monthly, impacting Russia’s military funding and oil exports.
- Ukraine’s parliament passed a bill criminalizing violations and circumvention of economic sanctions, introducing fines and imprisonment to enhance national security and align with EU standards.
- Germany’s Economy Minister confirms US guarantees exempt German Rosneft subsidiary from new energy sanctions, recognizing its separation from Russian control amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
