A Russian safety agent has been charged with smuggling ammunition and dual-use expertise, together with varied electronics which helped the Kremlin battle machine.
Vadim Konoshchenok, 48, of Tallinn, was arrested within the Estonian capital and extradited to the US on July 13.
He’s accused of violating US export controls, financial sanctions and different legal guidelines by transport items from the US to Russia by way of Estonia. He used a entrance firm referred to as Stonebridge Assets, however the true gamers behind the operation are considered Moscow-based Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC (the Serniya Community).
The businesses are believed to be appearing beneath the course of Russian intelligence to acquire dual-use applied sciences, to be able to assist Russia analysis and develop nuclear and hypersonic weapons, quantum computing and different army purposes.
The Serniya Community corporations had been sanctioned by the Treasury February 2022 and described as “instrumental to the Russian Federation’s battle machine.”
Konoshchenok was stopped by Estonian authorities whereas attempting to cross into Russia with round 35 various kinds of semiconductors and digital elements, together with a number of export-controlled US objects.
He’s additionally been repeatedly stopped by Estonian border officers trying to smuggle lots of of 1000’s of US-made rounds into Russia, together with 6.5 mm, 7 mm, .338 and .308 magnum rounds, which are sometimes utilized by snipers, in addition to military-grade .223 rounds.
Courtroom paperwork comprise info from digital communications obtained by the US authorities by which Konoshchenok identifies himself as an FSB “Colonel,” full with {a photograph} carrying his FSB uniform. His price for the work was allegedly 10% for sanctioned objects.
The DoJ indictment charged Konoshchenok with conspiracy and different costs associated to a worldwide procurement and cash laundering community on behalf of the Russian authorities.
If convicted he faces 30 years behind bars.
