A court in the Netherlands has actually sentenced a Russian nationwide to three years in prison for breaching EU sanctions by moving sensitive semiconductor innovation to Russian intelligence.German Aksenov, 43, had actually worked as an engineer in the Dutch semiconductor market from 2015-2024, consisting of for ASML, a leading maker of microchip equipment, and NXP Semiconductors, a provider of semiconductor components.Prosecutors stated Aksenov downloaded files consisting of technical requirements for microchip production from ASML and NXP servers onto a USB drive and external hard disk, which he was anticipated to turn over to an agent of Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) in Moscow, Bloomberg reported.According to the court, the details he transferred can add to reinforcing [Russias] military and strategic abilities.
That has effects for Ukraine and indirectly for worldwide security and stability.The EU sanctions, at first enforced in 2014 after Russias annexation of Crimea and broadened in 2022 following the full-blown invasion of Ukraine, restrict supplying technical support to Russia and moving innovations that might be used in weapons manufacturing.The court handed down a somewhat lighter sentence than the four years asked for by prosecutors, reportedly pointing out a lack of evidence that Aksenov was economically made up for his actions.Aksenov denied any wrongdoing, telling the court he had retained the files for professional usage.