Russian man faces treason charges over crypto transfers to Ukraine

A man in the city of Komsomolsk-na-Amur in Russia’s Far East has been arrested on suspicion of treason for allegedly sending cryptocurrency to the Ukrainian military.

According to Russia’s Federal Security Service, the crypto was designed to help Ukraine buy weapons and ammunition. The FSB released video footage of the arrest, showing agents pushing the man to the ground and handcuffing him.

The man’s identity and the exact amount of cryptocurrency sent were not disclosed. He now faces serious charges under Article 275 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which covers acts of treason.

Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code speaks of high treason, which is “any assistance provided to a foreign State, a foreign organization or its representatives in carrying out espionage, disclosure of state secrets or hostile activities to the detriment of the external security of the Russian Federation, committed by a citizen of the Russian Federation.” In this case, the ‘foreign State’ is Ukraine.

The first details of the news were reported by Russia’s local state media outlet Izvestia.

Crypto and betrayal

The arrest is part of a wider crackdown on people accused of aiding Ukraine during the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Just a day earlier, another man was arrested in Mariupol on suspicion of treason. He is accused of providing information to Ukrainian intelligence about Russian military positions.

Following Russia’s February 2022 invasion, Ukraine used crypto donations to fund defense and humanitarian aid, raising $225 million by July 2023. Major contributions include over $60 million from Aid For Ukraine, a government-backed crypto fund.

These arrests highlight Russia’s ongoing efforts to punish anyone perceived to have aided Ukraine during the war, and the use of cryptocurrency in this context raises questions about how digital assets can be regulated and controlled in global conflicts.