Finnish businessman linked to network that sent electronics to Russia

A Finnish businessman was linked to a network that routed electronic components to Russia, where some were later found in missiles and drones, Yle’s investigative programme MOT reported. Three of the network’s leaders have been jailed in the United States.

Denis Emelianov’s Hong Kong company, PT Technology Asia, worked extensively with Suntronic, a Russian-owned company registered in Dubai. Finnish customs data show that Emelianov’s company sent Russia about 1.5 million euros’ worth of components acquired by Suntronic. MOT found that the goods went to a customer serving Russia’s armed forces.

Emelianov denies exporting goods subject to sanctions or helping Russia’s military. He told Yle that he signed an agreement with Suntronic in 2019 and saw nothing unusual in the cooperation. He said Suntronic bought products for Russian customers and arranged their logistics and freight forwarding. Emelianov said he did not know what Suntronic bought, where it bought the goods or who it acted for.

In autumn 2023, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security imposed a temporary export ban on Suntronic. The measure barred the company from obtaining and trading in US technology, with the stated aim of preventing military technology from reaching Russia’s war effort.

The US action also covered two New York companies in the network, SH Brothers Group and SN Electronics, as well as seven people, all of whom were charged with crimes. Three network leaders who lived in the United States received prison sentences ranging from two to nearly four years. Four others were in Russia and could not be reached. The US-based company figures were originally from Russia and had Canadian passports.

US authorities said the network’s American companies had bought electronic components worth millions of euros and routed them to Russia through the United Arab Emirates and several other countries. Some components were later found in Russian missiles and drones in Ukraine.

Emelianov said through his lawyer that he ended cooperation with Suntronic as soon as the company was placed on a sanctions list. However, a month earlier, his Hong Kong company, which also listed an address in Lappeenranta, had been added to the US export-control restricted list. By then, it had already completed hundreds of shipments of Suntronic goods to Russia, according to the report.

Emelianov said he exported only civilian goods and opposed the war.