Russian Authorities Drop Charges Against Vinnik

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has ceased its search for Alexander Vinnik, who was accused of large-scale fraud. This was reported by TASS, citing sources within law enforcement agencies.

According to these sources, the decision is due to the absence of claims against the Russian national. He has also been removed from the ministry’s relevant database.

Since August 2017, Moscow investigators had been searching for Vinnik in connection with the alleged theft of over 600,000 rubles from an unnamed organization under the pretext of supplying equipment. The Ostankinsky Court had previously ordered his arrest in absentia.

In February 2025, Vinnik, who was held in an American prison awaiting sentencing for laundering at least $4 billion through the BTC-e exchange, was exchanged for U.S. citizen Mark Fogel.

Back in the summer of 2017, Vinnik was arrested in Greece. In 2020, he was extradited to France, where he was later sentenced to five years in prison and fined €100,000. Charges of extortion and creating the harmful Locky software were dropped.

In August 2022, Vinnik was transferred to the United States, where he faced a potential 55-year prison sentence. In May 2024, the Russian pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money through a trading platform. He was held accountable for losses amounting to at least $121 million.