Alexander Vinnik, Released in the US, Returns to Moscow

Russian national Alexander Vinnik, who was exchanged for American teacher Marc Fogel, has arrived in Moscow. TASS published footage of his return to his homeland.

Vinnik was brought to Vnukovo Airport on a business jet bearing US Air Force markings. According to him, his escorts did not inform him of the flight’s purpose, responding to all inquiries that they knew nothing.

Vinnik was arrested in Greece in the summer of 2017 on suspicion of ties to the BTC-e exchange and money laundering. In 2020, he was extradited to France, where he was sentenced to five years in prison and fined €100,000. Charges of extortion and creating the Locky ransomware were dropped.

In August 2022, Vinnik was extradited to the United States, where he faced up to 55 years in prison. The court denied his request for bail.

In May 2024, Vinnik pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money through a trading platform. He was held responsible for losses amounting to at least $121 million. He also faces fraud charges in Russia.

Marc Fogel, a former US embassy employee, was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport (Moscow) in August 2021 for drug smuggling. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

In an interview with RIA Novosti, Vinnik stated that the special flight made a refueling stop in Poland.

He expressed gratitude to President Vladimir Putin, diplomats, intelligence agencies, lawyers, and especially his family, whom he has already reunited with.

As a reminder, in March 2024, Russia sentenced “Red Admin” WEX case suspect Alexey Bilyuchenko (Ivanov). According to the US Department of Justice, Bilyuchenko, along with Vinnik and Alexander Klimenko, a citizen of Belarus and Cyprus, owned BTC-e from 2011 to July 2017.