Konstantin von Notz, the deputy Vice‑Chair of the Greens’ parliamentary group, views the recent raid on companies suspected of illegally exporting goods to Russia as proof that the sanctions imposed on Moscow are effective. “It is both right and necessary to impose sanctions, but we must also enforce them” he told “Handelsblatt” in its Tuesday edition. von Notz welcomed the fact that action is now being taken against individuals who appear to have deliberately circumvented EU embargoes.
Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, the FDP’s chair of the European Parliament’s Defence Committee, agreed with the sense of urgency. “I am not surprised that there are companies that literally go over bodies to maximise their profits” she told “Handelsblatt”. Strack‑Zimmermann criticised the dual reality that Germany finances the Ukraine with taxpayer money while, at the same time, firms allegedly earn money through covert channels at the expense of Ukrainian victims and fund Putin’s war effort. “It is high time we investigate these activities thoroughly. The decisive question will be which German companies are involved” she said.
von Notz also demands a comprehensive investigation into the underlying mechanisms. He described the circumstances as involving “criminal energy” that has allowed political directives to be subverted. “The exact network and what seems to be a criminal association behind the unlawful Russian aggression in Ukraine must be exposed as quickly and completely as possible” he urged. The goal is to identify key back‑stops, other participants, and to delineate the scale of firms, supplies, and accomplices involved.
