{"id":202225,"date":"2026-09-02T19:57:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T16:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/202225\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T19:57:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T16:57:22","slug":"lithuania-convicts-two-belarusians-for-obtaining-e500000-from-eu-in-violation-of-sanctions","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/202225\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania convicts two Belarusians for allegedly obtaining \u20ac500,000 from EU in violation of sanctions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Vilnius\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (pixabay.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 2, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> The Lithuanian interior ministry\u2019s Financial Crime Investigation Service reported on Tuesday that two citizens of Belarus had been convicted of defrauding the European Union of \u20ac500,000 in project funds after concealing that their company was subject to EU sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusians, who stood trial in the Vilnius District Court, admitted to fraud and paid more than \u20ac440,000 in damages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to investigators, the Lithuanian\u2011registered company was involved in the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)\u2019s project aimed at developing high\u2011precision satellite navigation receivers for agriculture, with a budget of \u20ac1.06 million, including \u20ac745,500 from the EUSPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The owners claimed the company was not subject to EU sanctions and had no links to blacklisted entities, but the court concluded that this information is false.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To circumvent the EU\u2019s restrictive measures, the convicts appointed their relative, a US-Lithuanian citizen, in April 2022 as the company\u2019s top manager, while continuing to control it behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investigation also traced the individuals to Russian and Belarusian defense industry enterprises under EU sanctions. They held senior positions in a Russian company developing satellite navigation chips for military use, itself on the EU sanctions list. One of them holds Russian citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian authorities support Russia in the full-scale war against Ukraine launched by Moscow in February 2022. Hundreds of Belarusian industrial companies are reportedly manufacturing and supplying goods for Russia\u2019s war effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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