Russian smuggled American technology to Russia and North Korea: he faces 75 years in prison
'25.02.2023'
Olga Derkach
A Russian citizen is accused of supplying American technology to the governments of Russia and North Korea. This is stated on the site. US Department of Justice.
He smuggled electronic devices used for counterintelligence operations to the Russian FSB and North Korea in violation of US sanctions.
A federal court in Brooklyn, New York, has charged Ilya Balakaev with various charges related to smuggling devices commonly used in counterintelligence operations from the United States to Russia on behalf of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea).
Between 2017 and the present, Balakaev, through his company LLC Radiotester, has allegedly entered into several contracts with the FSB for the repair of spectrum analyzers and signal generators.
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The devices that the defendant was tasked with repairing were often used as part of counterintelligence operations to find listening devices and transmit hidden messages. Because these devices were not available in Russia, the defendant created a network of individuals in the US to help him acquire equipment in America, which he, in violation of US sanctions, used to repair FSB devices.
The defendant worked closely with Russian government officials. As part of his scheme, the defendant entered into at least 10 contracts with the FSB, purchased about 43 devices in the United States, and traveled to America approximately 14 times over a four-year period.
In addition to the sanctions evasion scheme, the defendant provided US technology to a North Korean government official in violation of US sanctions against the DPRK. Balakaev contracted with the First Secretary of the North Korean Embassy in the Russian Federation, based in Moscow, to obtain hazardous gas detectors and software from the United States for the benefit of the North Korean government.
If found guilty, the defendant faces up to 75 years in prison.
