The Russia sanctions as a human rights instrument: Violations of export controls regarding war-critical goods to Russia

Norwegian Helsinki Committee

 This chapter is written by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (Aage Borchgrevink) and Corisk (Erlend Bollman Bjørtvedt).

 This chapter is written by Corisk (Erledn Bollman Bjørtvedt).

Next year, it will be ten years since Russia first attacked Ukraine. The upcoming anniversary calls for an even stronger and more concerted effort to end the war of aggression.

Norwegian Helsinki Committee – Corisk – Wikborg Rein – Rud Pedersen Group
24.10.2023

 This chapter is written by Wikborg Rein (Hanne Rustad Gundersrud, Elisabeth Roscher, Tine Elisabeth Vigmostad, Marie Solberg Hatten). The legal assessment provided herein is exclusively from a Norwegian law perspective, with a description of other jurisdictions based on publicly available sources.  

Introduction to sanctions currently in force against Russia (and Belarus)

 For a general introduction to the history and political purpose of sanctions, please see section 2.1 above.

Sanctions are a key front in the on-going war. The support Ukraine gets to fight for its freedom is important. But it is also important what Russia doesn’t get, as its military industry and armed forces remain dependent on Western technology.

Penalties for sanctions violations in EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, UK and US

Maximum sentences for sanctions violations in EU states, Norway, Switzerland, UK

This report comes out of groundbreaking research of the Norwegian risk analysis company Corisk in collaboration with my colleagues from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and their experienced partners, the law firm Wikborg Rein and the European Consultancy Agency, Rud Pedersen.

 This chapter is written by Rud Pedersen Public Affairs (Kristian Hvilen, Managing partner, and Roger Schjerva, senior advicer, Oslo office).

The report shows that there is a lack of a consistent compliance culture in the sanction coalition, regarding export controls of war-relevant goods. It also suggests that the sanctions increasingly are having an effect, not least thanks to the efforts of the EU and the US. 

I hope all stakeholders in the coalition states and business community will take note of the facts and recommendations presented here. Ukraine is paying the price for Russia’s aggression and destruction of the international human rights protection system.

The Russia sanctions are at bottom a human rights instrument, intended to defend international law. It is about our security – and yours. That is why we should all support, enforce and comply with them.

Et bilde som inneholder Menneskeansikt, person, klær, smil

Automatisk generert beskrivelse

 This chapter is written by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (Zekeriyya Yahya Kapinar and Aage Borchgrevink).

Head of Center for Civil Liberties, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022

The Russia sanctions as a human rights instrument: Violations of export controls regarding war-critical goods to RussiaNorwegian Helsinki Committee – Corisk – Wikborg Rein – Rud Pedersen Group
24.10.2023

Table of Contents

1. Preface

The Russia sanctions as a human rights instrument: Violations of export controls regarding war-critical goods to RussiaNorwegian Helsinki Committee – Corisk – Wikborg Rein – Rud Pedersen Group24.10.2023

Table of Contents

1. Preface

The Russia sanctions as a human rights instrument: Violations of export controls regarding war-critical goods to RussiaNorwegian Helsinki Committee – Corisk – Wikborg Rein – Rud Pedersen Group
24.10.2023