Russia jails IT worker for 13 years for donating money to Ukraine
Summary
A Russian military court sentenced IT specialist Yuri Belenkiy to 13 years in prison for cryptocurrency transfers that prosecutors said supported Ukraine’s armed forces and the Azov battalion. Russian media reported that Binance supplied investigators with his transaction records; Belenkiy denied the charges, and his defense plans to appeal.Key Facts
- The 2nd Western District Military Court sentenced 49-year-old Belenkiy to three years in prison followed by 10 years in a strict-regime penal colony.
- The court also fined Belenkiy 500,000 roubles, about $6,300.
- RIA Novosti reported that Belenkiy made 15 cryptocurrency transfers worth more than 120,000 roubles, about $1,500, between August 2022 and March 2024.
- Prosecutors said the transfers funded Ukraine’s armed forces and the Azov battalion, which Russia designates a terrorist organisation.
- Reuters reviewed Russian law enforcement documents that said Binance provided investigators with Belenkiy’s transaction history and that the records helped prosecute him.
- Belenkiy’s defense questioned whether the data came from Binance, and Belenkiy denied the charges.
- Binance said it does not comment on confidential law enforcement requests or individual cases.
- TASS reported that Belenkiy was detained in September last year while visiting Moscow and that his defense will appeal the verdict.
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