OREANDA-NEWS. In the court of the Southern District of Georgia (USA), two Russians were accused of a collusion for evading international trade sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation. This was reported by the US Department of Justice on December 3.

The judges mean restrictive measures for the supply of oil and gas equipment. According to the agency, Oleg Nikitin and Anton Cheryomukhin tried to purchase a Vectra 40G gas turbine for 17.3 million US dollars through intermediaries from an American company. It is assumed that the equipment was intended for use on a drilling platform in the Arctic.

The Department of Justice reports that Nikitin owns KS Engineering company. The Russian is arrested. Cheryomukhin is an employee of the company, a decision regarding him has not yet been received.

“For reasons of national security, the U.S. Department of Commerce expressly prohibited any unlicensed shipment or transfer of the Vectra to the Russian company for that purpose,” the agency wrote.

Together with the citizens of Russia, a charge was also brought against two Italians and one American, who, according to the Department of Justice, were used by Russians as a cover. Together with Nikitin, they were arrested in the city of Savannah (Georgia) “while attempting to complete the illegal transaction.”

The United States accuses the defendants of violating the provisions of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Control Reform Act. They face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of 1 million dollars if convicted.