**UK Export Firm’s Equipment Found in Russia**
A UK company, Beck Optronic Solutions, has had its high-tech equipment worth $2.1m (£1.6m) sold to Russian companies connected to the military. This is according to customs documents seen by BBC News.
The equipment includes camera lenses that can be used in missiles, tanks, and aircraft. These items are restricted for export to Russia due to sanctions imposed on the country since it invaded Ukraine.
**Part-time Model Linked to Company**
Our investigation has revealed that a part-time model named Valeria Baigascina was the director of a company called Rama Group LLC. The firm is registered in Kyrgyzstan, where Ms. Baigascina lives, although she claims to be based in Belarus.
Customs documents show that Rama Group made two shipments to Moscow of high-end optics used for military purposes. Another company, Shisan LLC, also linked to Ms. Baigascina, made four further shipments of similar equipment worth $1.5m (£1.1m).
**Concerns Over Sanctions Effectiveness**
The BBC investigation raises questions about the effectiveness of sanctions imposed on Russia since it invaded Ukraine. The report suggests that goods exported from the UK are being diverted to Russia through intermediaries in countries such as Kyrgyzstan.
International authorities have been aware of Kyrgyzstan’s role in sanctions evasion for some time. In April, the then-UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Bishkek and urged the government to do more to tighten its sanctions compliance.
**Calls for Greater Sanctions Compliance**
Experts are calling for greater sanctions compliance by companies operating in countries affected by international sanctions. The director of an independent anti-corruption organization based in Ukraine says that the holes in the sanctions regime are costing lives, as Western technology is being used to create deadly weapons.
The EU’s Special Envoy for the Implementation of Sanctions also emphasized the importance of due diligence checks to prevent illicit procurement networks from operating.