sanctions
Estonia extradites Russian arms smugglers to US
Estonia has extradited a Russian citizen to the United States. photo
© picture alliance / dpa
The accused is said to have smuggled large quantities of ammunition from US companies to Russia. He violated sanctions – which should have consequences.
Estonia has a Russian citizen with alleged ties to Russia’s FSB secret service extradited to the US for allegedly helping circumvent sanctions. The charges against Wadim K. were to be read out on Friday, according to the US judiciary.
The accused is suspected of having helped the domestic intelligence agency FSB to smuggle both military and civilian technologies and large quantities of ammunition from US companies to Russia in order to support the “Russian war machine”. In doing so, he violated US export controls and economic sanctions. If convicted, K. faces up to 30 years in prison.
Estonia as a transhipment point
The 48-year-old used front companies to cover up his criminal activities, the statement said. Estonia is said to have served as a transhipment point for smuggling goods from the USA to Russia.
Estonian authorities arrested K. at the request of the United States on October 27, 2022, when he tried to bring about 35 different types of semiconductors and electronic components, several of which came from the United States and were subject to export controls, to Russia . He was extradited to the United States on Thursday.
Americans arrested in Russia
The US Department of Justice stressed its efforts to counter Russian aggression. “And we will not spare those who are violating US sanctions to further fuel Moscow’s war effort,” said Deputy Attorney General Matthew Olsen, who heads the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, according to the release.
The extradition of K. is also significant in view of attempts by the US government to free Americans imprisoned in Russia. The focus is currently on journalist Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, who is also in prison for alleged espionage in Russia.
In the past, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin had repeatedly freed Russian criminals imprisoned in the United States through an exchange with Americans convicted in Russia.
US President Joe Biden had recently fueled hopes of movement in talks with Moscow about a possible prisoner exchange. When asked about Gershkovich, he said, “I am serious about our doing everything in our power to free Americans who are being unlawfully held in Russia or elsewhere. And that process is ongoing.”