The court in Teplice imposed a monetary penalty on Rus for violating anti-Russian sanctions

Commercial presentation Update: 24/04/2024 10:43
Issued by: 24/04/2024, 10:16

Teplice – A citizen of the Russian Federation must pay 300,000 crowns for attempting to violate international sanctions. 3.3 million crowns will be forfeited from his account in favor of the Czech Republic. The District Court in Teplice decided on it today. Vladimír Lichutin, who pleaded guilty, was also banned by the court from selling motor vehicles for 20 months. The man tried to export luxury cars to Russia two years ago. The judgment is not final, the defendant has kept a deadline for filing an appeal.

In response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the European Union imposed extensive and unprecedented sanctions on Russia in 2022, among them a ban on the export of any luxury goods. Since then, banks and financial institutions have been monitoring money flows from the territory of the Russian Federation. They also drew attention to a suspicious transfer to the account of Lichutin, who has been living in the Czech Republic for several years. In May 2022, he tried to sell three luxury cars to customers in Russia, who sent money to his account. The businessman wanted to cover up the business by temporarily registering the vehicles in Belarus. Money for BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi cars was sent directly to him by clients.

The defense proposed a conditional suspension of the criminal case. The court did not find that on the spot. The president of the senate, Dana Kolářová, stated that the court took into account the defendant’s declaration of guilt when imposing the sentence, she emphasized that there was also sufficient evidence of criminal activity.

The fine is 60,000 crowns lower than the one previously imposed on Lichutin by a criminal order by a civil court. “We will consider with the client whether it makes sense to file an appeal or not,” defense lawyer Leonid Kushnarenko told reporters. The president of the senate stated that another possible penalty would be the cancellation of permanent residence, but the court did not find a reason for this, Lichutin has lived in the territory of the Czech Republic for many years, he is raising children who were born in the Czech Republic, according to the court, there were no negative findings on his person. Lichutin said at the trial that he was no longer involved in the sale of motor vehicles.

Prosecutor Jan Scholle waived his right to appeal. “The verdict essentially granted the prosecution’s motions,” he said. The vehicles in question remained on the territory of Germany. “The deal was already arranged, the money partially went to Germany, the rest was secured in Czech accounts. The German bazaar was informed by the police and canceled the transaction,” said Scholle. The money was forfeited to the state because the clients provided it for an illegal purpose.

Russia CR court sanctions AUDIO Teplice PHOTO