Psychiatrist investigated over suspected evasion of Russia sanctions

A Russian-background psychiatrist working for South Karelia’s wellbeing services county is among those suspected of helping evade sanctions against Russia, Yle reports. The companies involved are suspected of exporting goods worth nearly nine million euros to Russia, including products needed by the Russian war effort.

Finnish Customs said it was investigating two people on suspicion of an aggravated regulatory offence. One company handled export arrangements, while the other stored the goods.

According to Yle, the companies are Lappeenranta-based North-West Finlogistics and MM Cargo, which now operates under the name Movevate Oy. The companies cooperated in the suspected sanctions evasion and carried out more than 1,200 exports to Russia together.

The psychiatrist is the sole board member of North-West Finlogistics. Movevate’s board consists of a man and a woman who are Finnish citizens. Yle does not know whether either of them is among the people under investigation.

MOT reported on the companies in 2024

Yle’s investigative programme MOT examined the companies in an extensive investigation and documentary published in early 2024. At the time, MOT did not publish their names because they were not yet suspected of crimes. The psychiatrist was interviewed anonymously and denied exporting goods subject to sanctions to Russia.

Yle is still not publishing the man’s name because he is only suspected of a crime at this stage.

Customs said the companies are suspected of exporting sanctioned goods worth almost six million euros to Russia. Based on customs data collected by Yle, the companies sent products worth approximately nine million euros to Russia in total. Not all of the shipments were necessarily goods subject to sanctions, as Western sanctions against Russia were introduced gradually.

Most of the goods were supplied to Russia by North-West Finlogistics. They were first sent to countries including Turkey and then mainly transferred to companies operating in the St Petersburg region.

Some products ended up at a small Russian information technology and software consultancy. Others went to a logistics company that, according to customs data, appears to have acquired them for customers whose names are not disclosed.

One of North-West Finlogistics’ export partners was a company registered in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Turkey has not imposed sanctions against Russia, making it an important hub for Russia’s acquisition of Western technology and other products needed by its armed forces, according to the report.

The exports took place in 2022 and 2023, after Russia began its war against Ukraine. Both companies had also exported goods to Russia before the current broad sanctions were established.

Customer linked to Russia’s war machine

MOT’s investigation found that the Lappeenranta companies exported items including engines, hydraulic pumps and valves to Russia. These are critical components that have been found in weapons used by Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine.

At least one of the companies had a customer in Russia with direct links to the Russian war machine. It is therefore possible that products sent by the company ended up being used by the Russian army.