On 5 June, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced the arrest of an individual sought internationally for multiple serious offences. This significant operation was conducted in collaboration with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The suspect was apprehended at Tbilisi International Airport by officers from the Central Criminal Police Department and the General Prosecutor’s Office.
The MIA clarified that the operation was executed under a framework of cooperation developed through a joint declaration with the US Department of State, ensuring close coordination with the FBI. Although Georgian authorities did not publicly disclose the detainee’s identity, media reports from both Georgia and Russia subsequently identified her as Tatyana Kurashkevich, a Russian citizen noted for her work as a businesswoman, international trade specialist, and postgraduate student at MGIMO University in Moscow.
According to reports, Kurashkevich has been placed on INTERPOL’s wanted list for alleged violations of international sanctions. The MIA indicated that US authorities are pursuing her on charges that include aiding criminal activity, conspiracy, and money laundering. Extradition proceedings are currently in progress.
“The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has already been successfully cooperating with the law enforcement agencies of the United States of America for many years against various categories of crime, including organised crime,” MIA noted.
Russian media have reported on statements made by Eva Merkacheva, a member of Russia’s Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, regarding a detainee identified as Kurashkevich. In a recent Telegram post, Merkacheva indicated that documents provided by Kurashkevich’s husband suggest that the allegations against her are primarily economic in nature and pertain to sanctions evasion. Merkacheva expressed concern that the extradition of Kurashkevich would constitute a violation of international law and hoped that Georgian authorities would decide against approving her transfer.
Additionally, Beka Nemsitsveradze, identified by Georgian broadcaster TV Pirveli as the detainee’s defence lawyer, confirmed that his client is a Russian citizen who is currently the subject of an INTERPOL notice issued at the request of the United States. Nemsitsveradze specified that the investigation focuses on the import and export of goods subject to sanctions, particularly aviation components.
European lawmakers raise concerns over circumvention of sanctions on aviation components
The problem of supplying spare parts for Russian aircraft is also a matter of concern for Europe. Members of the European Parliament, Petras Auštrevičius (Renew) and Bart Groothuis (Renew), have asked the European Commission to investigate the supply of aircraft spare parts to Russia by several companies. In their letter to the European Commission entitled “Circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia in the aviation sector” the two MEPs specifically noted that “Recent reporting and documentation suggests that entities linked to Russia’s aviation sector, including S7 Engineering LLC and S7 Airlines, continued to feature after February 2022 in contracts, invoices, freight records and maintenance records involving intermediaries in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Kyrgyzstan.”
MEPs write that “Other companies referenced include Golden Falcon Aviation FZE, Casper Aviation Spares Trading FZE, U.C.A Aviation Spares Trading FZE, Aerospace Technical Services, ATS Heavy Equipment and Machinery Spare Parts Trading, Aeroparts AOG, Royal Aircraft Maintenance Company and Sky Asia Technics LLC. In December 2023, the US Department of the Treasury added A T S Heavy Equipment and Machinery Spare Parts Trading to the sanctions list, alleging it had supplied millions of dollars worth of aircraft parts to Russia.”
Given that under EU sanctions, the export of aviation goods, technology and related maintenance services to Russia or for use in Russia is prohibited, the two MEPs ask:
“Will the Commission investigate whether the companies and supply chains identified have enabled the diversion of aviation goods, maintenance services or technical support to Russian operators?
Will the Commission share relevant information with Member State enforcement authorities, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), and international partners, including the US, the UK and Ukraine?
Does the Commission intend to propose further listings, export restrictions or anti-circumvention measures targeting aviation supply routes through non-EU countries used by Russian operators?”
Circumvention of sanctions on goods, especially aviation spare parts, is an increasingly concerning issue for European trade and supply chain security.
