Cyprus extradites russian accused of violating sanctions to the US

Cyprus has extradited to the United States law enforcement agencies a russian and German citizen, Artur Petrov, who was detained in the summer of 2023 on suspicion of illegally exporting American military microelectronics to russia.

On Friday, August 9, 33-year-old Petrov appeared before a US federal court for the first time after being extradited from Cyprus for criminal offenses related to export control violations, smuggling, fraud, and money laundering.

Petrov was arrested in Cyprus back in August 2023 at the request of the US Department of Justice, which accused him of participating in a scheme to purchase US microelectronics subject to US export controls.

According to the investigation, the russian worked for a russian electronics supplier to the russian army, Electrocom VPK LLC, and together with two other russian citizens, he ran a network of illegal purchases of sanctioned goods around the world.

For this purpose, Petrov, in particular, used the Cypriot shell company Astrafteros, through which he allegedly purchased equipment for fire safety systems. Then, through the shell companies of other conspirators in third countries, the goods were supplied to Elektrokom.

In total, the participants in the scheme managed to purchase and transfer to russia electronic components for military use worth more than $225 thousand. The companies included in the network were subject to US sanctions in November 2023.

Artur Petrov is charged with 11 counts, the most serious of which carry a 20-year prison sentence.

Source: US Department of Justice