Russia Begins Liquidating Seized Bitcoins From Bribery-Convicted Official

Russia Begins Liquidating Seized Bitcoins From Bribery-Convicted Official

Russian Authorities Seize Real Estate Belonging to Bribery-Convicted Official

The Russian government has started selling a portion of the over 1,032 bitcoins (BTC) seized from former investigator Marat Tambiev, who was convicted of taking bribes. These bitcoins were confiscated in 2023 by order of Moscow’s Nikulinsky District Court, as reported by local media.

In addition to the cryptocurrency, Russian authorities also confiscated several real estate properties in Moscow as part of separate enforcement actions against Tambiev.

Details of the Bribery Case

Prosecutors allege that Tambiev received the BTC from members of the hacking group Infraud Organization in April 2022 in exchange for not seizing their assets. Currently serving a 16-year jail sentence, Tambiev’s bribery case has been described by Russian media as the largest of its kind at the time of his arrest.

However, legal challenges have arisen in liquidating all the seized bitcoins. Reports indicate Tambiev had split the coins into smaller amounts, requiring multiple court rulings for Russian authorities to gain permission to sell all the BTC. Thus far, Russian authorities have secured permission to sell $10 million worth of BTC, with prosecutors eager to liquidate more of the confiscated cryptocurrency.

Co-Accused and Ongoing Investigations

A separate Tass report revealed that one of Tambiev’s co-accused, Kristina Lyakhovenko, has been sentenced to nine years in a general regime penal colony. Another co-accused, Dmitry Gubin, remains at large and has been placed on law enforcement’s most wanted list.

These developments highlight the complexities of managing and liquidating confiscated cryptocurrency assets, particularly in cases involving high-profile criminal activities.