Russian Programmer Sentenced to 13 Years for Treason Amid Alleged FSB Abuse and Crypto Theft
A court in Irkutsk, Russia, has sentenced programmer Vadim Nekrashchuk to 13 years in a high-security penal colony on charges of treason. The verdict follows allegations that Nekrashchuk photographed a military checkpoint and transmitted its geolocation to a suspected Ukrainian intelligence officer. During the proceedings, the defendant described severe mistreatment by the Federal Security Service (FSB), including detention in isolation while hooded and handcuffed. He claimed that during this period, approximately 150,000 rubles worth of cryptocurrency was stolen from his wallet while FSB officers had exclusive access to his devices. Although military prosecutors reportedly acknowledged the theft, they declined to open a criminal case. The defense argued that the alleged sensitive information was publicly available on internet maps. Originally facing a potential 15-year sentence, Nekrashchuk was also fined 268,000 rubles. This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding judicial processes, human rights abuses within detention facilities, and the security of digital assets during state investigations in Russia.
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Russian Programmer Sentenced to 13 Years for Treason Amid Alleged FSB Abuse and Crypto Theft
A court in Irkutsk, Russia, has sentenced programmer Vadim Nekrashchuk to 13 years in a high-security penal colony on charges of treason. The verdict follows allegations that Nekrashchuk photographed a military checkpoint and transmitted its geolocation to a suspected Ukrainian intelligence officer. During the proceedings, the defendant described severe mistreatment by the Federal Security Service (FSB), including detention in isolation while hooded and handcuffed. He claimed that during this period, approximately 150,000 rubles worth of cryptocurrency was stolen from his wallet while FSB officers had exclusive access to his devices. Although military prosecutors reportedly acknowledged the theft, they declined to open a criminal case. The defense argued that the alleged sensitive information was publicly available on internet maps. Originally facing a potential 15-year sentence, Nekrashchuk was also fined 268,000 rubles. This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding judicial processes, human rights abuses within detention facilities, and the security of digital assets during state investigations in Russia.
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