Brussels – It is called “Precision”, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) investigation that led to the conviction of two Belarusian nationals (father and son) and a company they controlled for fraud against European funds. The two men secured European funding as part of a project to develop high-precision satellite navigation devices for agricultural use in Lithuania. The investigation, however, revealed strong links between the defendants and the Russian and Belarusian defence industries, including entities subject to EU restrictive measures. In practical terms, the two men continued to control the company involved in the project, whilst one also held a senior position in a Russian company engaged in the development and testing of chips for military navigation, which is subject to European restrictive measures. One of the defendants had also acquired Russian citizenship between 2020 and 2021 and held shares in other companies linked, directly or indirectly, to Russian and Belarusian military programmes.
Despite these links, the two men allegedly made false declarations that the company had no ties to sanctioned entities. This secured EU funding and gave them access to the European market and geospatial data. The project had a budget of over one million euros, with more than 700,000 euros funded by the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). A total of 447,272 euros was actually disbursed. The two men repaid the full amount after pleading guilty. The Vilnius District Court also imposed fines totalling 36,000 euros on the son.
“‘Precision’ demonstrates EPPO’s speed and efficiency in cases involving the circumvention of EU sanctions,” said European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi. She said the investigation concluded with a conviction in around a year. In her view, the case highlights the need to strengthen controls and preventive measures in strategic sectors of the EU.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
