US sanctions three Bulgarian companies for enabling Russia’s war

Sofia: Three Bulgarian companies are among those named on October 30 in lists by the US State Department and Treasury Department as sanctioned for enabling Russia’s prosecution of its illegal war or as involved in supplying Russia with advanced technology and equipment that it desperately needs to support its war machine.

The individuals and entities named, from a number of countries, add up to close to 400.

The Treasury Department named Türkiye-based Mirex Havacilik ve Savunma Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Serketi (Mirex) and its chairman, Turkish national Ozgur Hasan Celik (Celik), saying they have been involved in contracts with Russian government-affiliated defense companies to deliver and facilitate electronic warfare system demonstrations in Russia.

Mirex has led efforts to locally assemble and manufacture equipment for Russian defence companies in Türkiye, the statement said. It said that Celik is the manager and co-owner of Bulgaria-based GNO Investment LTD OOD (GNO Investment), which he uses to facilitate Mirex’s defense production and procurement activities.

Celik is also the manager and co-owner of Bulgaria-based Mirex BG LTD OOD (Mirex BG).

Celik has also worked with US-designated Russian defence conglomerate State Corporation Rostec (Rostec)’s representative in Türkiye, Aleksey Viktorovich Gureyev (Gureyev), on efforts to manufacture Russian defence equipment in Türkiye using Mirex, the statement said.

Russian national Mikhail Alekseyevich Klementyev (Klementyev) works alongside Gureyev as the Rostec Deputy representative in Türkiye.

Mirex is being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 for operating or having operated in the defence and related material sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Celik is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mirex.

GNO and Mirex BG are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Celik.

Gureyev and Klementev are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Rostec.

The State Department named Air Leo M And E Ltd EOOD (Air Leo M&E), a Bulgaria-based company which it said shipped CHPL items (Tiers 3-4) such as microelectronic and aviation components to Russia-based companies which took place in November 2023.

AIR LEO M&E and AIR LEO ship similar aviation components and CHPL items to the same Russia-based buyer, 4U AIRCRAFT TECHNIK, and have common leadership, the State Department said.