Russian Vadim Konoshchenko, accused of purchasing military technology for Russia in circumvention of sanctions, was extradited from Estonia to the United States. This was reported by the US Department of Justice.
In December 2022, it became known that Konoschenko was being accused in a criminal case of conspiracy related to the purchase of military technology and dual-use goods for Russia in circumvention of sanctions. The case also involves two US citizens — Alexei Braiman and Vadim Ermolenko — and Russians Evgeny Grinin, Alexei Ippolitov, Svetlana Skvortsova and Boris Livshits.
The defendants in the cases were charged with 16 counts — among them conspiracy to smuggle sniper ammunition, highly sensitive electronic components that can be used in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons.
According to the US Department of Justice, Konoshchenok is an FSB officer. In emails, he called himself an “FSB colonel” and published photographs in the uniform of the department, in addition, references to “FSB orders” were found in his calendar, and numbers of Russian security officials were found in his contact list.
According to investigators, while in Estonia, Konoschenok sent electronics and ammunition of American origin, subject to export control, to Russia. The Estonian authorities detained the alleged security official in October 2022. “Konoschenko was also repeatedly detained by Estonian border guards due to attempts to bring American-made cartridges into Russia and export control,” the US Department of Justice press release says.
The press release also says that the defendants in the case are connected with Moscow-based companies Sernia Engineering and Sertal, which US officials say are «operating under Russian intelligence to procure advanced electronics and sophisticated test equipment for the Russian military.»
In December, Reuters and The British Royal United Services Institute wrote that after the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia, bypassing sanctions, increased the supply of electronics and semiconductors through companies in Turkey, Hong Kong and Estonia.