Czech Republic to Investigate Companies Suspected of Supplying Equipment for Russian Arms Production

The Czech Security Information Service will investigate local companies that may have supplied equipment to Russia for weapons production.

Ladislav Šticha, a spokesperson for the country’s intelligence services announced this, as reported by the iRozhlas portal.

The publication recalled that earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had mentioned eight Czech companies that might be importing machinery into Russia for enterprises within the military-industrial complex.

Ladislav Šticha noted that as soon as the security service received the list from the Ukrainian side, it would conduct an investigation into those companies and their suppliers.

According to him, a significant portion of the exports of goods currently under embargo took place before the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when sanctions had not yet been imposed.

“However, it is almost certain that in no case would this be a direct export from the Czech Republic to Russia, as this is impossible without a license, and such goods could not legally cross the border,” Šticha said.

He suggests that the goods in question may have been supplied before 2022 or re-exported through other countries.

The spokesperson for the Czech intelligence service noted that many companies applied for export licenses to so-called safe countries, including EU member states.

They are required to guarantee that the buyer is the end user, but there are cases where goods are resold and re-exported to Russia through third countries.

Ladislav Šticha also pointed to a lack of funding and personnel needed to combat the illegal export of goods.

Earlier, media reports indicated that Czech companies had been bypassing sanctions to supply Russian weapons manufacturers with scarce items, which could’ve been used in the production of cruise and ballistic missiles.

Specifically, this refers to metalworking machines, which can be used in both civilian and military production.