A significant legal decision has been made in the UK involving Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, a former governor of Sevastopol, Crimea, who has been found guilty of breaching UK sanctions in a groundbreaking case. This marks a pivotal moment, as it represents the first prosecution under the Russia Sanctions Regulations, set in motion by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) following Russia’s aggressive annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, who also holds a British passport, was accused of circumventing sanctions by receiving substantial payments—amounting to over £75,000—from his spouse, Ekaterina Ovsiannikova. Additionally, he received a high-end Mercedes Benz SUV from his brother, Alexei Owsjanikow. Ovsiannikov faced seven counts in total, and was convicted on six of these; the jury could not reach a decision on the final charge.
The case highlighted the legal ramifications of the international sanctions imposed on individuals associated with the Russian government, especially those tied to the annexation of Crimea. Ovsiannikov’s tenure as governor of Sevastopol, a city deemed strategically essential, commenced just two years following the controversial annexation, a move that resulted in his being sanctioned by both the European Union and the United Kingdom.
In an interesting twist, Ovsiannikov applied for a British passport in Turkey after arriving from Russia. He was granted the passport in January 2023, due to his father’s UK origins, despite sanctions still being enforceable against him. Remarkably, shortly after arriving in the UK, he successfully challenged the EU sanctions, which were lifted just five days post his arrival.
After migrating to the UK, he found accommodation at his brother’s residence in Clapham, where his family was already settled. In February, just a few days after applying for a bank account, Ekaterina transferred £76,000, a significant sum that would later lead to his account’s freezing upon the bank’s realization of his status on the sanctions list. Subsequently, his brother purchased the Mercedes Benz on his behalf.
Further complicating matters, evidence indicated that Owsjanikow also paid over £40,000 in school fees within the same timeframe for Ovsiannikov’s children, which the prosecution maintained violated sanctions. While Ekaterina was acquitted of four counts related to facilitating payments to her husband, Owsjanikow faced a guilty verdict on several charges stemming from these financial transactions.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution underlined that Ovsiannikov was acutely aware of his sanctioned status. This notion was evidenced by his own efforts to have the sanctions lifted, as he included identifying information related to the sanctions in applications he submitted.
Prosecutor Julius Capon expressed hope that the outcome of this case would resonate as a stern warning against individuals and entities attempting to bypass sanctions imposed meant to deter support for Russian military actions, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Graeme Biggar of the National Crime Agency (NCA) corroborated this stance, noting that over 180 actions have been executed against threats posed by individuals linked to the Kremlin, emphasizing this commitment amidst the ongoing geopolitical crisis.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty reinforced the UK government’s dedication to intensifying pressure on the Russian leadership and those aiding their military endeavors. Future sentencing for Ovsiannikov and Owsjanikow is awaited at Southwark Crown Court, indicating a continuing trajectory of legal accountability in response to international sanctions and violations. The legal proceedings underscore a larger commitment by the UK to strengthen its sanctions regime and curtail the capabilities of individuals benefiting from ties to the Russian state amidst global unrest.