Money Laundering: Court jails Ex-Russian minister in UK

A UK court has on Friday April 11, 2925, sentenced a former Russian minister, Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, to 40 months in prison.

According to reports, the sentence followed his conviction for breaching UK sanctions and laundering money from family members.

Ovsiannikov, 48, served as governor of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea, appointed by President Vladimir Putin.

He also held a position as Russia’s deputy minister for industry and trade before his dismissal in 2020.

UK prosecutors said Ovsiannikov opened a British bank account to illegally receive money from his wife and brother.

He received tens of thousands of pounds, despite being under UK sanctions since 2017.

The sanctions were imposed after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Though the EU annulled similar sanctions in 2022, the UK retained them under its 2019 Russian Regulations.

Ovsiannikov was aware of the sanctions but continued receiving financial aid between February 2023 and January 2024.

He was found guilty on six counts of circumventing sanctions and two counts of money laundering.

Justice Sara Cockerill delivered the 40-month sentence at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.

She said the offenses were “simple” and not a complex financial fraud but still breached serious laws.

The judge added that ongoing war in Ukraine played little role in sentencing.

The Crown Prosecution Service said Ovsiannikov deliberately ignored the UK sanctions for personal gain.

Prosecutor Julius Capon said his family also showed “complete disregard” for the law in aiding him.

Ovsiannikov moved to the UK in February 2023, a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

He resigned as Sevastopol governor in 2019 and later lost membership of Russia’s United Russia party.

His British bank account received illegal funds while sanctions banned him from such financial activities.

His brother, Alexei Owsjanikow, 47, was convicted of paying his nephew’s tuition in violation of sanctions.

He received a 15-month suspended sentence and was cleared of buying a Mercedes-Benz for his brother.

Alexei had faced additional charges for providing access to a UK bank account, which he denied.

Ovsiannikov’s wife, Ekaterina Ovsiannikova, 47, was cleared of four charges linked to £76,000 transfers.

Her lawyers admitted the transfers happened but said she didn’t know sanctions barred her husband from receiving money.

Defense lawyer Rosemary Davidson said the case deeply affected Ovsiannikov’s family, including his children.

She said banks closed accounts belonging to his children and other relatives after his conviction.

Davidson added that the family would suffer consequences of this case for years to come.

All three defendants are Russian nationals, but Dmitrii and Alexei also hold British passports.

Their British citizenship comes from their father, who was born in the UK.

The case marks the UK’s first successful prosecution under its 2019 Russia sanctions regulations.

Authorities said it sets a clear example that violations of sanctions will not be tolerated.

The UK government continues to enforce strict financial restrictions against Russian individuals linked to Crimea.

The court emphasized the need for compliance and vigilance in the face of global geopolitical tensions.

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