DOJ Charges Russian Oligarch Malofeyev With Sanctions Violations, Disrupts Botnet

Topline

The Department of Justice charged Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev with sanctions violations—for a scheme allegedly pursued nearly a decade ago—according to an indictment unsealed on Wednesday, and said it had disrupted a global bot network controlled by a Russian military intelligence agency.

Key Facts

Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a press conference Malofeyev allegedly evaded Treasury Department sanctions placed in 2014 by attempting to acquire media organizations in Europe.

Malofeyev allegedly hired an American citizen to work for him to operate media organizations in Russia and Greece between 2013 and 2018, and allegedly conspired with the U.S. citizen to illegally transfer a $10 million investment Malofeyev had made in the U.S. to a business associate in Greece, according to the indictment.

Garland said the DOJ had seized the $10 million investment made in the U.S.

Malofeyev is charged with two counts of violating the International Economic Powers Act, according to the indictment, which each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Justice officials also announced that the department had dismantled a global malicious computer network, known as a “botnet,” controlled by Russia’s GRU before it could be used against targets.

Garland said Russia has previously used similar technology infrastructure to attack Ukrainian targets.

What We Don’t Know

If the U.S. will be able to prosecute Malofeyev. According to the DOJ, Malofeyev remains at large and is believed to be in Russia. If Malofeyev remains in Russia, there is no possibility Russia will extradite him to the U.S., as the U.S. and Russia do not have an extradition treaty.

Tangent

Garland said the DOJ is collecting evidence of alleged war crimes in Ukraine. “We are assisting international efforts to identify and hold accountable those responsible for atrocities in Ukraine,” he said. Ukrainian prosecutors said Wednesday they are investigating more than 4,600 allegations of war crimes in the country.

Key Background

The DOJ has ramped up its actions to disrupt and prosecute criminal activity associated with Russia in recent days. Along with German authorities, the DOJ seized the Russian-affiliated Hydra Market on Tuesday, which Garland called the largest illegal marketplace on the dark web, and charged a Russian resident with conspiracy charges related to operating the market. And on Monday, the FBI and international law enforcement partners seized a superyacht owned by Viktor Vekselberg in Mallorca, Spain. Garland said the department had also obtained seizure warrants targeting additional assets of several sanctioned Russian nationals on Monday.

Further Reading

Malofeev: the Russian billionaire linking Moscow to the rebels (Financial Times)

Spanish Police And FBI Seize Viktor Vekselberg’s Superyacht Tango In Mallorca (Forbes)