Accessibility links

Breaking News

Russian Hacker Extradited From Finland Pleads Guilty To U.S. Charges


WASHINGTON -- A Russian man extradited from Finland two years ago on computer-fraud charges has pleaded guilty to spreading malicious software and netting millions of dollars for himself.

The U.S. Justice Department said on March 28 that Maksim Senakh would be sentenced in the case in August.

Senakh was arrested in Finland in 2015 at U.S. authorities' request and extradited to face U.S criminal charges.

His arrest prompted an angry protest by Russia's Foreign Ministry, which called the move illegal.

The ministry has repeatedly objected to arrests of Russian citizens in other countries at the behest of U.S. authorities, warning of what it said were "kidnappings" by U.S. officials.

Several of those Russians targeted for arrest in recent years have been computer hackers like Senakh.

Yevgeny Nikulin, who was arrested in January, is being held in Prague as U.S. and Russian authorities fight for his extradition.

Roman Seleznyov, the son of a Russian lawmaker, is scheduled to be sentenced in a federal court in Washington state next month on cyberfraud and other charges. He was arrested in July 2014 in the Maldives and sent to the United States.

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG