Media: Fruit trading company in Serbia supplies missile parts to Russia

Some Serbian companies set up by Russian nationals are used to circumvent sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU and the US and to procure components used in the production of weapons and military equipment, specialised media report, according to the Balkan Security Network.

According to the portal, Russia is trying to provide its military industry with foreign-made components by all means, which is now a problem due to the sanctions, and is therefore resorting to tricks and purchases through third countries, including Serbia.

“Serbian media have recently reported that some companies set up by Russian citizens are used to circumvent EU and US sanctions by purchasing goods needed for military production, including GoodForwarding d.o.o. from Belgrade. These allegations are corroborated by commercially available international trade data accessed by the Balkan Security Network,” the portal writes, adding that the company is a company registered with the Agency for Commercial Registers for the trade in fruit and vegetables.

The text adds that the company is an “important source of supply” for Russia of microchips and printed circuit boards from Far Eastern and Western manufacturers needed for the production of missiles, drones and other weapons and military equipment.

They add that the data reveal that at the end of last year the company had 42 transactions with companies from China, the USA, Taiwan, Japan, the UK, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, whose components were then exported to Russia.

The portal adds that such activities constitute a potential violation of a number of international sanctions and agreements and that such business is contrary to Serbia’s official policy.

“Although Belgrade has not imposed restrictive measures against Russia, the Serbian government has said that it will not allow it to be a platform for circumventing international sanctions,” the text reads./N1/