Poland Accuses Plywood Importers of Violating Sanctions on Russia, Belarus
Polish authorities arrested four Polish citizens and one Russian citizen for allegedly illegally importing Russian and Belarusian birch plywood in violation of sanctions, the country's Ministry of Finance said Dec. 29, according to an unofficial translation. The ministry said the plywood was imported into Poland "under false declarations of country of origin -- Kazakhstan and Turkey -- to allow for legal trade within the" EU.
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Poland said it seized documents, "electronic media," searched the companies' facilities and determined the importers "effectively concealed the actual sources of the goods." This brought them "significant financial benefits" while harming other companies who were complying with the sanctions, Poland said.
The five people were charged with "misleading customs authorities regarding the performance of contracts concluded before the imposition of sanctions and the importation of plywood and strips from Belarus into Poland." They face a "prison sentence of no less than three years."