November 1, 2023 at 03:12PM
Three Russian nationals have been arrested in New York for smuggling electronics components to sanctioned entities in Russia, some of which were later found on battlefields in Ukraine. The trio sent over 300 shipments valued at over $10 million through front companies, directing them to various countries before rerouting them to Russia. The components have been discovered in Russian weapons platforms and signals intelligence equipment in Ukraine. This arrest is part of a series of similar cases involving illegal shipments of technology to Russia.
Key Takeaways from the Meeting Notes:
1. Three Russian nationals, including Nikolay Goltsev, Salimdzhon Nasriddinov, and Kristina Puzyreva, have been arrested in New York on charges of wire fraud, smuggling, and conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act.
2. The defendants are accused of evading sanctions by shipping electronic components worth millions to Russia, which were later found on battlefields in Ukraine.
3. The trio operated through front companies, SH Brothers Inc. and SN Electronics Inc., and managed to send around 300 shipments valued at over $10 million.
4. The components shipped have dual civilian and military uses and are considered critical for the production of advanced Russian precision-guided weapons systems.
5. The shipments were directed to Turkey, Hong Kong, India, China, and the UAE before being rerouted to Russia.
6. Russian entities receiving the goods include Radioavtomtika, Testkomplekt, and EKB-Neva, all of which are on the US’s specially designated nationals list.
7. The defendants were aware of the illegal nature of their actions and discussed the need for caution to avoid detection.
8. The arrest is part of a series of similar cases involving illegal shipments of technology to Russia following sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.