Ilya Sachkov, the head of the company Group IB cybersecurity, is seen in a car in Moscow, Russia, November 9th, 2018. MOSCOW, Oct 7 Reuters - Russia has charged the Chief Executive of a leading Russian cyber security company with treason, local news agencies quoted sources as saying on Thursday.
Ilya Sachkov, founder and CEO of Group IB, was placed in custody by GOB for two months last week. Law enforcement officers searched his firm's Moscow offices. He is charged with divulging state secrets, Interfax news agency said. It did not disclose by whom or how much Sachkov had allegedly shared information with.
Group-IB investigates high-tech crimes and online fraud, with international clients that include banks, energy companies, telecoms firms and Interpol.
At the time of his arrest, which his lawyer said he would appeal, Sachkov denied allegations that he was working with unspecified national intelligence services and hurting Russia's national interests, TASS reported.
TASS and RIA, both state news agencies said on Thursday that he had been charged with treason giving no details.
Treason is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. On Wednesday, Vladimir Putin's mother Dmitry Peskov urged the President to have her son released by saying the letter had not reached the presidential administration.
I understand his mother's emotional state. A serious charge is against her son, Peskov told reporters. But only a court can find someone guilty.