**Germany’s Tech Giant: Feeding Russia’s War Machine with Ease**
In a shocking revelation, Politico has uncovered how a German company, Kontron, is secretly providing technology to Russia that can be used for military purposes. This despite the country being under severe sanctions due to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The EU has imposed significant restrictions on Russia, resulting in losses of at least $150 billion. However, it seems that Moscow’s grip on power remains unbroken.
**Bypassing Sanctions with a Slovenian Subsidiary**
The German company Kontron used its Slovenian subsidiary to bypass sanctions and deliver sensitive technology to Russia’s Iskra Technologies. The SI3000 telecommunications platform, worth over €3.5 million, is a system capable of intercepting communications. This equipment can be employed for military purposes, raising serious concerns about the EU’s effectiveness in enforcing sanctions.
**Legacy Contracts or Not?**
Kontron claims it was fulfilling legacy contracts, but this seems to be a convenient excuse. EU regulations clearly prohibit the export of such sensitive technology except for exceptional purposes like medicine, cybersecurity, or emergency services. By claiming legacy contracts, Kontron is essentially saying that it can’t stop supplying Russia even though it’s against the rules.
**Continued Cooperation with Entities Linked to Russian Authorities**
Despite publicly condemning Russia’s invasion and announcing its withdrawal from the Russian market, Kontron has continued cooperating with entities linked to the FSB (Russia’s security agency), the Ministry of Defense, and Rostelecom. Iskra Technologies, which remains operational, even received awards in Russia for its “import substitution” efforts.
**Secondary Sanctions Evasion**
Furthermore, following the imposition of EU sanctions in 2023, Kontron exported equipment to Kazakhstan, a country that has refused to support the sanctions regime against Russia. This transit through a third country is a textbook example of secondary sanctions evasion. It’s astonishing that neither the European Commission nor German authorities have launched a formal investigation so far.
**Demand for Immediate Intervention**
Several Members of the European Parliament are already demanding immediate intervention and tighter enforcement of sanctions. Given the extensive evidence, it’s hard to understand why no action has been taken against Kontron.
**Kontron’s Ties with Iskra Technologies**
It’s worth noting that Kontron owns nearly 50% of Russia’s Iskra Technologies and holds the right to acquire the remaining shares. The identity of the other stakeholder remains unknown, adding another layer of complexity to this situation.
As reported by EuroMaidanPress: **Read More** @ euromaidanpress.com
