Russian national charged in Toronto with illegally exporting goods to Russia
A Toronto-based man, Anton Trofimov, who runs a Hong Kong-based business exporting microelectronic parts, is facing charges for allegedly violating Canada’s sanctions against Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine. The charges were filed in the Ontario Court of Justice and include exporting a restricted good to Russia and exporting a good to Russia for the purpose of manufacturing weapons. These charges fall under the federal Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations that were amended in 2014 to impose stricter sanctions in response to the invasion.
John Boscariol, a lawyer at McCarthy Tétrault in Toronto specializing in international trade, stated that this is the first case prosecuted under these regulations that he is aware of. Trofimov, a Russian national with addresses in Toronto and Hong Kong, is the director of Asia Pacific Links Ltd., a company sanctioned by the United States and the U.K. According to Open Sanctions, Asia Pacific Links Ltd. is the primary supplier of microelectronic components to Russian companies, including components used to manufacture Orlan-10 drones that are utilized by the Russian military in Ukraine.
The charges against Trofimov also include possessing the proceeds of property obtained by crime. These charges are related to incidents alleged to have occurred between July 17, 2022, and December 8, 2022. The RCMP arrested Trofimov on May 5, and the charges are yet to be tested in court. Trofimov is affiliated with other companies, including IPS Pacific Company Limited and 10219452 Canada Inc., both sanctioned by the United States.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) raised concerns about Trofimov’s involvement in supplying technology used by Russia to harm Ukrainians. The UCC urged the federal government to investigate the matter. The RCMP announced the first prosecution for violations of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations in Canada. The charges against Trofimov have brought attention to the enforcement of sanctions and export controls in Canada, with critics suggesting that Canada has been slow to act compared to other countries like the United States.
Boscariol emphasized the importance of Canadian companies understanding the end-users of their products to prevent circumvention of sanctions. The charges against Trofimov serve as a warning to companies involved in the export of goods that could potentially be used for military purposes. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress continues to push for stronger enforcement of sanctions to prevent the illegal export of components to Russia. By cracking down on these activities, there is hope to limit Russia’s ability to harm Ukrainians through military means.
The case involving Anton Trofimov highlights the importance of adhering to sanctions regulations and the need for vigilant enforcement to prevent the misuse of technology for military purposes. The charges against Trofimov are a significant step towards upholding international sanctions and ensuring accountability for those involved in violating them.
