A German court in Hamburg has opened a case against two former executives of the German engineering giant Siemens. They are accused of violating sanctions by facilitating the export of Siemens gas turbines to Russian-occupied Crimea. This was stated in a court declaration obtained by Reuters journalists.

How Siemens Found Itself at the Center of the Scandal

Back in 2017, Siemens gas turbines ended up at two power plants in Crimea despite sanctions. The company claimed that it had supplied the equipment for use in Russia and was unaware of its subsequent transfer to the occupied territory.

Last year, the Hamburg prosecutor’s office charged five individuals: four German citizens and one Swiss-French citizen. They were accused of violating sanctions imposed after Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014.

The Hamburg Regional Court decided to continue prosecuting two former Siemens executives, while cases against the other three were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. However, the prosecution has appealed this decision, demanding the resumption of proceedings against the remaining defendants.

EU and U.S. sanctions, imposed in response to Russia’s 2014 annexation of the peninsula, prohibit Western companies from supplying electricity or energy-related equipment to occupied Crimea.