Germany probes some Bosch exports to Russia, Der Spiegel says

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany’s economic system ministry has launched an investigation into whether or not engineering group Bosch violated an export ban on items that can be utilized for each civilian and army functions, Der Spiegel journal reported on Friday.

European Union sanctions have restricted exports of dual-use items since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Extra sanctions have been imposed since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Bosch stated in an announcement it had no data that any official investigation had began.

It earlier stated it had suspended deliveries of truck elements inside Russia and to Russian clients partly due to indications its merchandise have been getting used for non-civilian functions in violation of native contracts.

The corporate, which has vegetation producing automobile components and different items in Russia, stated a lot of its enterprise in Russia had been curtailed due to the Ukraine struggle.

“We study the impression of the respective present sanctions lists very rigorously after which implement them constantly and in each element,” the corporate stated.

A spokesperson for the economic system ministry stated it didn’t touch upon particular person circumstances.

Der Spiegel’s report follows one by broadcaster ARD this week that quoted Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba saying Ukraine had discovered Bosch components in Russian army autos.

“We take the Ukrainian international minister’s allegations very severely and instantly initiated an intensive investigation,” the corporate stated, including that any components weren’t equipped on to the producer of the army autos.

Bosch employs about 3,500 individuals in Russia, the place it primarily produces shopper items, automobile components and different objects for the native market at three areas.

Final 12 months, Bosch generated gross sales of 1.2 billion euros ($1.32 billion) in Russia.

($1 = 0.9074 euros)