Violation of EU restrictive measures may become a crime

Violation of EU restrictive measures will become a crime and can be punished with imprisonment, according to a draft law adopted by the government. The document transposes European norms into national legislation and aims, among other things, to deter terrorist networks and financiers of military conflicts. Authorities say the normative act is to be debated in parliament under emergency procedure by the end of November.

Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said that the penalties could reach up to 12 years in prison in the case of serious violations.

Oana Toiu: Until now, attempts or actions to evade sanctions were considered more like an act of negligence, from now on they become serious acts, with a prison sentence of one to five years, and in aggravating cases, sentences of up to 12 years can be reached. The investigation of these new crimes will be carried out by the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism Crimes. This also sends a very clear message: we consider the evasion of sanctions a threat to national security.

Another new element refers to the possibility that virtual currencies can also be confiscated. In the case of minor violations, fines will be applied and the assets and funds involved in the crime will be confiscated. From now on, crypto assets will be considered funds and will be confiscated, and thus, illegally obtained money will no longer be able to be removed from the traditional financial system.

Translated by: Radu Matei