Russian companies bypass sanctions through "white gloves"
Investigation "Schemes" revealed that the Russian "Quality" (Квалитет) Group has supplied equipment lubricants of brands such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Tannas, BASF, and Lanxess to the Russian military through intermediaries in Turkey and the UAE, bypassing sanctions.
In just the past two years, "Quality Scientific and Production Enterprise" (НПП «Квалитет») and "Quality Aviation" (Квалитет-Авиа) have completed 487 deliveries to Russian defense industry enterprises, with a total amount of about 1 billion rubles (over 12 million dollars).
Customers include:
- Kurgan Machine Building Plant (armored combat vehicle manufacturer)
- Ural Locomotive and Wagon Plant (tank manufacturer)
- Kazan Helicopter Plant
- Votkinsk Plant (producer of the "Iskander-M" ballistic missile system)
The investigation stated, "Without the specialized lubricating oil with unique additives from 'Quality' company, the engines and other mechanical devices of these Russian military equipment would quickly fail due to wear and overheating."
At the same time, the production of "Quality" company's products depends on foreign components banned by Western governments for export to Russia. "And 'Quality' has been continuously and systematically importing sanctioned US and German brand additives and laboratory equipment."
An analysis of customs declaration data in the ImportGenius system showed that these deliveries were completed through Dubai IPU Trading Company and its Turkish partner Özçinarlar.
Over the past three years, the total value of such sanctions-busting deliveries exceeded 650 million rubles (about 8.5 million dollars).
Although the "Quality" company has signed state contracts worth billions of rubles with sanctioned Russian arms factories, this supply chain that imports Western components through third countries, as well as the Russian lubricant and additive producer itself, have not yet been included in the sanctions lists of the United States and the European Union.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859968640817216/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.