Alexander Vinnik agrees to return to Russia

Alexander Vinnik, who was connected to the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange (while both categorically reject the connection, the FINCEN’s statements are not usually based on pure speculations), has agreed to return to the Russian Federation. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to file an extradition request to the Greek authorities. He is charged with criminal cases in his homeland as well, it appears. It should be reminded that in the United States, he is accused of money laundering totaling to $2 billion through the BTC-e exchange.

Local Russian sources speculate that the case of Alexander Vinnik is actually in the hands of Timofei Musatov (FJM). He is a lawyer of Igor Ashmanov, the husband of Natalya Kasperskaya. The connection of Vinnik, Kasperskaya and Ashmanov has not started yesterday: if we check the legal companies of A. Vinnik, we will find that the legal entities of Ashmanov are registered on the same addresses. It might be that Kaspersky Lab antivirus corporation, closely connected with the Russian government and the FSB, recently banned in the United States, does not want Vinnik to tell the FBI something jeopardizing. However, this is all just a theory that might not be true.

The case of Alexander Vinnik is described in detail in our previous reports. The BTC-e exchange he used as a tool for money laundering has been trying to restore its reputation – with problems, as at first, the re-launched website mechanics malfunctioned, and later, they changed their name to WEX, trying to make everyone forget their involvement in criminal activities.