{"id":1876747,"date":"2026-04-10T11:29:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T08:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1876747"},"modified":"2026-04-10T11:29:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T08:29:51","slug":"italian-arms-dealer-pleads-guilty-to-selling-ammunition-to-russia-in-us-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1876747","title":{"rendered":"Italian arms dealer pleads guilty to selling ammunition to Russia in US court"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/72\/03\/1200x675_cmsv2_cb2dbcfe-89b0-5bbe-9f33-9e24e60893c4-9717203.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2885293-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885293\" data-cid=\"9718014\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885293-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/14\/189x106_cmsv2_4dbec1df-9c8b-534e-82d6-dffda02b4ec8-9718014.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Vice President JD Vance speaks to the press before boarding Air Force Two, Friday, April 10, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., for expected departure to Pakistan, for talks on\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    JD Vance warns Iran not to &#8220;play&#8221; US during planned negociations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885206-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2885206\" data-cid=\"9717485\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885206-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/74\/85\/189x106_cmsv2_0f2ed97a-628a-5e88-81ef-39d729f52fa8-9717485.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginien\u0117 and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Baku\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lithuania and Azerbaijan expand ties during PM Ruginien\u0117\u2019s visit\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885288-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885288\" data-cid=\"9717997\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885288-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/79\/97\/189x106_cmsv2_25ebf85b-9c80-5e94-b860-dfb6ef0f905b-9717997.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People gathering around a giant version of Risk on display\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Italy: From Go to Monopoly, board games bridge generations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885294-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885294\" data-cid=\"9718015\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885294-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/15\/189x106_cmsv2_470e737a-125c-5a9b-b627-c2948bb556b5-9718015.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emergency services at the site of an impact following a rocket attack from Hezbollah\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Israel: Hezbollah rocket from Lebanon strikes Safed, injuring several people\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885293-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885293\" data-cid=\"9718014\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885293-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/14\/189x106_cmsv2_4dbec1df-9c8b-534e-82d6-dffda02b4ec8-9718014.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Vice President JD Vance speaks to the press before boarding Air Force Two, Friday, April 10, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., for expected departure to Pakistan, for talks on\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    JD Vance warns Iran not to &#8220;play&#8221; US during planned negociations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885206-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2885206\" data-cid=\"9717485\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885206-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/74\/85\/189x106_cmsv2_0f2ed97a-628a-5e88-81ef-39d729f52fa8-9717485.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginien\u0117 and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Baku\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lithuania and Azerbaijan expand ties during PM Ruginien\u0117\u2019s visit\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885288-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885288\" data-cid=\"9717997\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885288-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/79\/97\/189x106_cmsv2_25ebf85b-9c80-5e94-b860-dfb6ef0f905b-9717997.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People gathering around a giant version of Risk on display\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Italy: From Go to Monopoly, board games bridge generations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885294-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885294\" data-cid=\"9718015\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885294-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/15\/189x106_cmsv2_470e737a-125c-5a9b-b627-c2948bb556b5-9718015.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emergency services at the site of an impact following a rocket attack from Hezbollah\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Israel: Hezbollah rocket from Lebanon strikes Safed, injuring several people\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Italian arms dealer pleads guilty to selling ammunition to Russia in US court<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/72\/03\/1536x864_cmsv2_cb2dbcfe-89b0-5bbe-9f33-9e24e60893c4-9717203.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"US Department of Justice Coat of Arms\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              US Department of Justice Coat of Arms<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">J. Scott Applewhite\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0J. Scott Applewhite\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspFortunato Pinto\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1775820591\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-04-10 13:29:51 +02:00\">10\/04\/2026 &#8211; 13:29 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup\" class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup 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alt=\"vk\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>VK<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"vk\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        A sales manager at a large Italian weapons distributor was arrested in the US for selling arms to Russia. He pleaded guilty in court to having created a network of companies to circumvent restrictions imposed by US law, according to US authorities.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>An Italian arms dealer is being held in jail after pleading guilty to illegally exporting more than $540,000 (\u20ac461,000) worth of US ammunition to Russia via Kyrgyzstan, using Italian companies to circumvent export controls, the US Department of Justice revealed.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Manfred Gruber, a sales manager at a large Italian firearms distributor, appeared before US Magistrate Judge Taryn A Merkl for the Eastern District of New York on 30 March and admitted to conspiracy to commit export control violations.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors said Gruber purchased ammunition from US suppliers and re-exported it from Italy to Kyrgyzstan in violation of Department of Commerce licences that required the ammunition to remain in Italy. Most of the ammunition was then sent onward to Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Gruber&#8217;s co-conspirator, Sergei Zharnovnikov, a Kyrgyzstan-based arms dealer, was sentenced to 39 months in prison in January after pleading guilty to violating the Export Control Reform Act by sending US-made firearms and ammunition to Russia.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Gruber&#8217;s crimes helped sustain a bloody war that has claimed countless lives,&#8221; said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg. &#8220;The National Security Division is committed to holding accountable those who illegally channel weapons and ammunition to the Russian war machine.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI&#8217;s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, said Gruber &#8220;put many lives at risk by illegally supplying Russia with American-made military-grade munitions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to advance its war in Ukraine&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Today&#8217;s guilty plea demonstrates the grave consequences of violating US export controls and the FBI&#8217;s commitment to prosecuting those who illegally fuel the war efforts of our foreign adversaries,&#8221; Rozhavsky said.<\/p>\n<h2>How the scheme worked<\/h2>\n<p>US Attorney Joseph Nocella for the Eastern District of New York said Gruber used multiple companies to conceal his plan to send military-grade munitions to Kyrgyzstan before they were re-exported to Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Court documents show Gruber did not apply for, obtain or hold any licence to export or re-export ammunition to Kyrgyzstan.<\/p>\n<p>A Nebraska-based US company held a licence to export ammunition to Gruber&#8217;s Italian employer, but the licence required that the ammunition remain in Italy. Gruber used a front company to re-export the ammunition to Zharnovnikov in Kyrgyzstan.<\/p>\n<p>A contract found on Zharnovnikov&#8217;s phone showed he had entered into an agreement with a Russian company for ammunition manufactured by the Nebraska supplier.<\/p>\n<p>A second US company based in Tennessee also had a licence to export ammunition to Gruber&#8217;s employer in Italy with the same restriction. Gruber also re-exported this ammunition from Italy to Kyrgyzstan.<\/p>\n<h2>Encrypted messages<\/h2>\n<p>Prosecutors presented encrypted chat messages from 23 September 2023 between Gruber and an unidentified co-conspirator who has not been charged.<\/p>\n<p>When the co-conspirator asked about delivering 100,000 bullets from the Nebraska supplier, Gruber wrote that he needed a few days to respond and asked whether the entire shipment had to be delivered at once.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m asking because of the possible destination,&#8221; Gruber wrote. &#8220;They caught the Slovenian distributor who had triangulated with Russia&#8230; FBI International.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The co-conspirator said the request came from an Armenian customer and the shipment could be split.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I would say it would be better, so it goes unnoticed,&#8221; Gruber replied, followed by a winking emoji.<\/p>\n<p>David Peters, assistant secretary for export enforcement at the Commerce Department, said the guilty plea demonstrates the government&#8217;s commitment to &#8220;vigorously enforcing US export control laws&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Gruber faces sentencing at a later date. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to violate export controls is five years in prison.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                          Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  France&#8217;s Macron and Pope Leo XIV hold first meeting at the Vatican <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Strait of Hormuz falls outside NATO&#8217;s remit, Spain says after Trump&#8217;s ultimatum<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU considering excessive profit taxes on oil and gas companies, foreign profits remain unclear<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Italy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Kyrgyzstan<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Armi<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    War in Ukraine<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    United States <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2885293-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885293\" data-cid=\"9718014\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885293-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/14\/320x180_cmsv2_4dbec1df-9c8b-534e-82d6-dffda02b4ec8-9718014.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Vice President JD Vance speaks to the press before boarding Air Force Two, Friday, April 10, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., for expected departure to Pakistan, for talks on\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    JD Vance warns Iran not to &#8220;play&#8221; US during planned negociations<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884829-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884829\" data-cid=\"9715437\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884829-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/70\/35\/20\/320x180_cmsv2_48e32de6-387d-5a20-b7f6-477c94a545ca-9703520.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk next to a campaign poster which reads, &quot;They're a risk. Fidesz is the safe choice&quot; in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, ahead of the April 12 parliam\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Orb\u00e1n or Magyar: EU braces for veto politics or a cautious reset<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884952-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884952\" data-cid=\"9716937\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884952-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/69\/37\/320x180_cmsv2_d0b8ff54-c5e6-517d-971e-888fb841b636-9716937.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman rides a bicycle by a poster showing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the slogan &quot;Let's stand together against the war!&quot; in Albertirsa, Hungary, 9 April 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Elections in Hungary: What do the polls say?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2885276-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885276\" data-cid=\"9717816\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885276-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/78\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_61fc6b03-5e7a-5b41-9510-cf0f80901940-9717816.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"P\u00e9ter Magyar speaks during the party's campaign opener. 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Fidesz is the safe choice&quot; in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, ahead of the April 12 parliam\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Orb\u00e1n or Magyar: EU braces for veto politics or a cautious reset<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884952-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884952\" data-cid=\"9716937\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884952-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/69\/37\/320x180_cmsv2_d0b8ff54-c5e6-517d-971e-888fb841b636-9716937.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman rides a bicycle by a poster showing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the slogan &quot;Let's stand together against the war!&quot; in Albertirsa, Hungary, 9 April 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Elections in Hungary: What do the polls say?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885276-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885276\" data-cid=\"9717816\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885276-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/78\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_61fc6b03-5e7a-5b41-9510-cf0f80901940-9717816.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"P\u00e9ter Magyar speaks during the party's campaign opener. Budapest, Hungary on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026..\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russian propaganda unit targets Hungary\u2019s elections<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885112-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885112\" data-cid=\"9716862\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885112-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/68\/62\/320x180_cmsv2_1fc5a8ac-55fd-5e8b-b887-d7e4b94d0b64-9716862.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"military chaplain holds a Palm Sunday service in an church damaged by the Russian troops in the frontline town of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine,April 5, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Putin announces Easter ceasefire, proposed by Kyiv for weeks<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884367-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884367\" data-cid=\"9713104\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>     Petrol and diesel in Europe: Where are prices highest and lowest?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885022-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885022\" data-cid=\"9716515\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump issues NATO ultimatum to reopen Strait of Hormuz &#8216;within days&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2879646-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2879646\" data-cid=\"9690878\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rome Colosseum renovation reveals structures hidden for centuries<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885103-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885103\" data-cid=\"9716837\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;NATO not obliged to reopen the Strait,&#8217; Turkey&#8217;s trade minister says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884943-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884943\" data-cid=\"9716044\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran rules out restriction on enrichment programme, nuclear chief says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">An Italian arms dealer is being held in jail after pleading guilty to illegally exporting more than $540,000 (\u20ac461,000) worth of US ammunition to Russia via Kyrgyzstan, using Italian companies to circumvent export controls, the US Department of Justice revealed.Manfred Gruber, a sales manager at a large Italian firearms distributor, appeared before US Magistrate Judge Taryn A Merkl for the Eastern District of New York on 30 March and admitted to conspiracy to commit export control violations.Prosecutors said Gruber purchased ammunition from US suppliers and re-exported it from Italy to Kyrgyzstan in violation of Department of Commerce licences that required the ammunition to remain in Italy. Most of the ammunition was then sent onward to Russia.Gruber&#8217;s co-conspirator, Sergei Zharnovnikov, a Kyrgyzstan-based arms dealer, was sentenced to 39 months in prison in January after pleading guilty to violating the Export Control Reform Act by sending US-made firearms and ammunition to Russia.&#8221;Gruber&#8217;s crimes helped sustain a bloody war that has claimed countless lives,&#8221; said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg. &#8220;The National Security Division is committed to holding accountable those who illegally channel weapons and ammunition to the Russian war machine.&#8221;Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI&#8217;s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, said Gruber &#8220;put many lives at risk by illegally supplying Russia with American-made military-grade munitions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to advance its war in Ukraine&#8221;.&#8221;Today&#8217;s guilty plea demonstrates the grave consequences of violating US export controls and the FBI&#8217;s commitment to prosecuting those who illegally fuel the war efforts of our foreign adversaries,&#8221; Rozhavsky said.How the scheme workedUS Attorney Joseph Nocella for the Eastern District of New York said Gruber used multiple companies to conceal his plan to send military-grade munitions to Kyrgyzstan before they were re-exported to Russia.Court documents show Gruber did not apply for, obtain or hold any licence to export or re-export ammunition to Kyrgyzstan.A Nebraska-based US company held a licence to export ammunition to Gruber&#8217;s Italian employer, but the licence required that the ammunition remain in Italy. Gruber used a front company to re-export the ammunition to Zharnovnikov in Kyrgyzstan.A contract found on Zharnovnikov&#8217;s phone showed he had entered into an agreement with a Russian company for ammunition manufactured by the Nebraska supplier.A second US company based in Tennessee also had a licence to export ammunition to Gruber&#8217;s employer in Italy with the same restriction. Gruber also re-exported this ammunition from Italy to Kyrgyzstan.Encrypted messagesProsecutors presented encrypted chat messages from 23 September 2023 between Gruber and an unidentified co-conspirator who has not been charged.When the co-conspirator asked about delivering 100,000 bullets from the Nebraska supplier, Gruber wrote that he needed a few days to respond and asked whether the entire shipment had to be delivered at once.&#8221;I&#8217;m asking because of the possible destination,&#8221; Gruber wrote. &#8220;They caught the Slovenian distributor who had triangulated with Russia&#8230; FBI International.&#8221;The co-conspirator said the request came from an Armenian customer and the shipment could be split.&#8221;I would say it would be better, so it goes unnoticed,&#8221; Gruber replied, followed by a winking emoji.David Peters, assistant secretary for export enforcement at the Commerce Department, said the guilty plea demonstrates the government&#8217;s commitment to &#8220;vigorously enforcing US export control laws&#8221;.Gruber faces sentencing at a later date. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to violate export controls is five years in prison.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/04\/10\/italian-arms-dealer-pleads-guilty-to-selling-ammunition-to-russia-in-us-court&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/72\/03\/1200x675_cmsv2_cb2dbcfe-89b0-5bbe-9f33-9e24e60893c4-9717203.jpg&#8221;] USA JD Vance warns Iran not to &#8220;play&#8221; US during planned negociations World News Lithuania and Azerbaijan expand ties during PM Ruginien\u0117\u2019s visit No Comment Italy: From Go to Monopoly, board games bridge generations No Comment Israel: Hezbollah rocket from Lebanon strikes Safed, injuring several people USA JD Vance warns Iran not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1876747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1876747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1876747"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1876747\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1876747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1876747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1876747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}