Implementation of sanctions and the criminal law aspects of sanctions violations: training by FIU Latvia and the Office of the Prosecutor General

During the training, representatives of FIU Latvia – Head of Sanctions Implementation Division Marta Tilhena and Head of Financial Intelligence Division Roberts Dūdiņš – explained the legal aspects of sanctions restrictions, highlighted the role of courts in sanctions-related matters, and introduced key judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union relevant to the sanctions framework. Participants were provided with insights into the identification and detection of sanctions violations, with particular emphasis on current typologies of sanctions evasion. At the same time, the importance of inter-institutional cooperation with FIU Latvia throughout the investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of sanctions violations was underlined.

During the training, Aldis Lasmanis, Acting Prosecutor of the Specialised Prosecutors Unit of the Criminal Law Department of the Office of the Prosecutor General, addressed the criminal law aspects of sanctions violations, explained specific issues related to the gathering of evidence in sanctions violation cases, and discussed the assessment of the proportionality of imposed penalties.

At the conclusion of the training, participants were given the opportunity to solve practical tasks by analysing scenarios involving potential sanctions violations. This was followed by a constructive discussion on how to further enhance cooperation between institutions to improve the identification, proof, and adjudication of sanctions violations in Latvia.