New York indicts participants in illegal microelectronics export scheme to Russia

On Wednesday, October 9, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York filed charges against Russian citizens Zhanna Soldatenkova and Ruslan Almetov, as well as Russian and German citizens Artur Petrov. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, they organized a network that, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, illegally purchased large volumes of complex microelectronics for a company supplying equipment to the Russian military-industrial complex, Voice of America reports.

Soldatenkova, Almetov, and Petrov face charges of export control violations, smuggling, fraud, and money laundering in connection with their alleged involvement in a scheme to purchase U.S. microelectronics subject to export controls for manufacturers supplying weapons and other equipment to the Russian military.

Petrov was arrested on August 26, 2023, in Cyprus at the request of the United States and was extradited to the United States earlier this year. Soldatenkova and Almetov, who reside in Russia, remain at large.

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"Zhanna Soldatenkova and Ruslan Almetov, along with Artur Petrov, allegedly conspired to evade export laws… to provide assistance to the Russian defense industry… By concealing the true nature of their activities, they not only broke the law, they also jeopardized our nation's national security. The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting the United States and holding accountable anyone who seeks to harm our country," James Dennehy, assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York office, said in a statement.

"We will continue to work with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to pursue violators anywhere in the world. The illicit global procurement networks that support Russia's war machine will not be tolerated. That's why we and our law enforcement partners are working around the clock to ensure that those who operate these networks are brought to American justice," John Carson, special agent in charge of the Office of Export Administration in the New York Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, said in a statement.

Petrov, who previously lived in Russia and Cyprus, worked for Electrocom VPK, a supplier of critical electronic components to manufacturers that supply the Russian military with weapons and other equipment. Soldatenkova is a Russian citizen living in Russia and who worked for Electrocom. Almetov is also a Russian citizen, he was a co-founder and CEO of Electrocom.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga