Washington D.C./31.08.23/Turan: The United States on Thursday warned that those who evade its export control restrictions to support Putin’s brutal war machine 'will be held accountable,' TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
"The FBI is resolute in its commitment to stopping Russia from rearming its military with U.S. technology,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said in a statement.
"Along with our international partners, we will bring to justice anyone who evades sanctions or violates the laws of the United States," he added.
Smith's comments came as U.S. prosecutors charged a Russian-German man with smuggling large quantities of microelectronics technology with military applications to Russia, for eventual use in that country's war in Ukraine.
Arthur Petrov, a 33-year-old dual Russian-German citizen, was arrested early this week in Cyprus at the U.S. government's request, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in Manhattan.
Petrov and two unnamed Russian co-conspirators were accused of using shell companies to conceal the fraudulent procurement from U.S. distributors of microelectronics subject to American export controls.
According to Smith, Petrov and his co-conspirators "knowingly " misrepresented their business activities to evade export controls in order to procure and transship components associated with Russian guided missiles, drones, and electronic warfare devices.
"This is yet another example of Russia using illicit procurement networks to not only advance their military, but ultimately harm the national security of our country," he added.
Prosecutors believe the technology was destined for Electrocom, a St. Petersburg-based supplier of electronic components to companies that provide weapons and other equipment to the Russian military.
Petrov faces 11 criminal counts. Some of the charges bring up to 20 years in prison.
"Those who evade our export control restrictions to support Putin's brutal war machine will be held accountable," U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce Matthew Axelrod said in a statement.
Alex Raufoglu
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