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A number of news outlets (BBC, Al Jazeera, RT) report that Russian authorities have charged two former officers in the Federal Security Service and an employee of cyber security firm Kaspersky Lab with committing treason in the interests of the United States.
RT (quote) seem to provide more details (or not):
Ruslan Stoyanov, head of Kaspersky Lab's computer incidents investigations unit, Sergey Mikhailov, a senior Russian FSB officer, and his deputy Dmitry Dokuchayev are accused of "treason in favor of the US," lawyer Ivan Pavlov said on Wednesday, as cited by Interfax.
Pavlov chose not to disclose which of the defendants he represents, adding, however, that his client denies all charges.
The charges against the defendants do not imply they were cooperating with the CIA, Pavlov added. "There is no mention of the CIA at all. [The entity] in question is the US, not the CIA," he stressed, according to TASS.
The lawyer maintained the court files included no mention of Vladimir Anikeev, an alleged leader of 'Shaltai Boltai', a hacking group that previously leaked emails from top Russian officials, including Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
The hacking group's name was in the news earlier in January, when Russian media reports linked Mikhailov and Dokuchayev to 'Shaltai Boltai'. In an unsourced article last Wednesday, Rosbalt newspaper claimed Mikhailov's unit was ordered in 2016 to work with the group.
Previously:
Kaspersky Lab's Top Investigator Reportedly Arrested in Treason Probe
(Score: 5, Touché) by Thexalon on Thursday February 02 2017, @02:56PM
This is the definitive proof that the US hacked Russia's election backed in 2012! Putin is not my president!
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 02 2017, @05:49PM
It isn't definite proof, but it is circumstantial evidence in support of it. Like there is an arson case, and the person the police suspect happens to have a lighter. There are countless other reasons why the suspect might have a lighter (e.g. they are a smoker), but it certainly doesn't hurt the case.
The obvious suggested story here is that the CIA/etc's proof that Russia hacked the election is the evidence provided by these security people. The Russians found out, and now are trying them for treason.
Interestingly, this is happening right after Trump becomes President, where he is in a position to order the CIA to tell him who or what the source of the allegations of Russia hacking. Coincidence? Probably. But I can't hand-or-heart-swear that this is all unrelated. If nothing else, the appearances will do much to undermine the willingness of potential information sources to US Intelligence Services.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 02 2017, @07:55PM
Mystery death of ex-KGB chief linked to MI6 spy's dossier on Donald Trump [telegraph.co.uk]
An ex-KGB chief suspected of helping the former MI6 spy Christopher Steele to compile his dossier on Donald Trump may have been murdered by the Kremlin and his death covered up. it has been claimed.
Oleg Erovinkin, a former general in the KGB and its successor the FSB, was found dead in the back of his car in Moscow on Boxing Day in mysterious circumstances.
Erovinkin was a key aide to Igor Sechin, a former deputy prime minister and now head of Rosneft, the state-owned oil company, who is repeatedly named in the dossier.
Erovinkin has been described as a key liaison between Sechin and Russian president Vladimir Putin. Mr Steele writes in an intelligence report dated July 19, 2016, he has a source close to Sechin, who had disclosed alleged links between Mr Trump’s supporters and Moscow.
Be sure to read to the every end of the story for a pro-forma dissenting opinion.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Dunbal on Thursday February 02 2017, @08:08PM
This is media spin. The crime of treason is for MONEY LAUNDERING and hiding assets for some corrupt government officials have already been arrested. This has nothing to do with the US election and everything to do with Dmitry Zakharchenko being found with over $100 million cash at his house...
(Score: 1, Troll) by ese002 on Friday February 03 2017, @12:52AM
This is media spin. The crime of treason is for MONEY LAUNDERING and hiding assets for some corrupt government officials have already been arrested.
trea·son
ˈtrēzən/
noun
noun: treason; noun: high treason; plural noun: high treasons
the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government.
Neither money laundering or hiding assets are treason. Money laundering is a crime by definition and hiding assets can be crime but neither is the crime of treason. In order to be guilty of treason, one must assist a foreign power in opposition to one's own country. Although money often comes up in treason, the money handling is not the part that is treason.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Dunbal on Friday February 03 2017, @01:30AM
Neither money laundering or hiding assets are treason.
Legal definitions != dictionary definitions.
When the head of the government anti-corruption unit is caught with $130 million in his home, it's treason whether he likes it or not.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 03 2017, @02:41AM
You seem pretty confident.
Sounds like motivated reasoning to me.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Dunbal on Friday February 03 2017, @04:21AM
Yep, that's the only possible explanation for confidence.