Serbia’s Ministry of Interior (MUP) continued last year to upgrade software and equipment from the Russian company Papilon, which has been under U.S. and European Union sanctions since 2023, according to an investigation by Radio Free Europe (RFE).
The investigation also showed that part of this equipment in 2023 was financed by Serbia with funds it receives from the European Union.
Therefore, Brussels could demand that Belgrade return the money, European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier told RFE.
“If it is established that a certain expense was not incurred in accordance with EU rules, including those related to sanctions, the EU will take appropriate measures to protect the EU budget, including the recovery of funds where appropriate,” Mercier said, as reported by Radio Free Europe.
Serbia’s Ministry of Interior did not respond to RFE’s questions regarding the procurement and use of this technology despite the sanctions.
For years, the Serbian Ministry of Interior has been upgrading equipment from the Russian IT company Papilon, which is used for identity verification based on fingerprints and palm prints, facial images, or iris scans, according to documents available on the public procurement portal.
According to data from the Russian business registry, the Russian company Papilon is engaged in the development of biometric and forensic systems.
Since 2023, Papilon and four affiliated companies have been on the U.S. list of companies determined to be “involved in activities that threaten the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.”
The companies are also under European Union sanctions, meaning they are on the list of companies subject to the strictest EU trade restrictions.
The EU’s justification for the sanctions states that these are companies that are “end military users, part of the Russian military and industrial complex, or have commercial or other ties with the Russian defense and security sector, or otherwise support it.”
The RFE investigation showed that part of the equipment from this Russian company was procured through EU IPA funds, that is, funds used to implement reforms in countries that are candidates for EU membership, preparing them for accession to the Union.
In a 2024 report by Serbia’s Ministry of Interior on activities related to the implementation of projects supported by the Union, it is stated that one million euros was allocated for the procurement of equipment when “in October 2023 the National Center for Criminal Forensics switched to a new version of AFIS (AFIS Papillon 9).”
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Source:Nova.rs; Foto: N1