Indian National Indicted for Conspiring to Export Aviation Components to Russia Amidst Ongoing Sanctions

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Sanjay Kaushik, a 57-year-old national of India, was indicted in the District of Oregon for allegedly conspiring to illegally export aviation components with dual civilian and military applications to Russia. Kaushik faces multiple charges, including attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system, and making false statements in connection with the export, all in violation of the Export Control Reform Act.

Kaushik was arrested on October 17 in Miami, Florida, after a criminal complaint and arrest warrant was issued by the District of Oregon. The charges stem from an alleged conspiracy that began as early as March 2023, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Kaushik is accused of conspiring with others to unlawfully acquire aerospace goods and technology from the United States, which were then destined for use by entities in Russia.

According to court documents, Kaushik and his co-conspirators purchased an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), a critical component used in navigation and flight control for aircraft, from an Oregon-based supplier. Components like the AHRS require an export license to be sold to certain countries, including Russia. The indictment claims that Kaushik falsely represented that his Indian company would be the end purchaser, and that the AHRS would be used in a civilian helicopter. However, the true intent was to route the equipment through India and send it to Russia, where it would be used by Russian end users.

The AHRS component was detained by authorities before it could be exported. Kaushik is charged with conspiracy, attempting to illegally export controlled goods, and making false statements in connection with the export. If convicted, Kaushik faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for each count.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in Portland, Oregon, and coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency task force focused on enforcing sanctions and export controls in response to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. The task force, led by the U.S. Department of Justice, is dedicated to combating efforts to evade sanctions and undermine the collective international response to Russia’s invasion.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division, Assistant Secretary Matthew S. Axelrod of BIS, and U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight of the District of Oregon all participated in the announcement of the indictment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Nyhus and Trial Attorneys Joshua E. Kurland and Dallas J. Kaplan from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.