As seen on Darknet News (EN):
Group-IB founder Ilya Sachkov sentenced (https://t.me/vchkogpu/40233) to 14 years in prison for high treason
The Moscow City Court sentenced to 14 years in prison the founder of Group-IB Ilya Sachkov. As reports (https://lenta.ru/news/2023/07/26/sachkovvv/) to Lenta.ru, he will serve his sentence in a strict regime colony.
It is clarified that when sentencing the IT businessman, the term of stay under arrest in the pre-trial detention center was taken into account, equating one day there to one day in the colony. Sachkov has been in detention since September 21, 2021, after he was arrested in Moscow, on the same day he was placed in Lefortovo. In addition to the real term, Sachkov was sentenced to a one-year restriction of freedom and a fine of 500 thousand rubles. The prosecution insisted on a sentence of 18 years in prison.
The situation has already been commented (https://www.facct.ru/media-center/press-releases/ilya-sachkov-court/) by F.A.C.C.T. (so called the domestic Russian brand Group-IB). They said that Sachkov’s defense intends to appeal against the verdict and plans to appeal to the President of Russia. It is noted that the company’s employees “steadfastly accepted what happened” and continue to support Sachkov. They hope “he will be released and rehabilitated”.
“This is a difficult moment for all of us and a black day for the cybersecurity market. Ilya Sachkov, my friend, colleague, creator of one of the most successful high-tech companies in the field of cybersecurity – as a result of a “fast trial” sent to a colony. Ilya is a cult figure in the world of cybersecurity. Having chosen the creation of world-class engineering technologies to counter cybercrime as his life’s work, he has done a lot to cleanse Russian and international cyberspace from crime,” said F.A.C.C.T. Valery Baulin.
Sachkov was accused of committing crimes under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of Russia (“high treason”). All hearings were held in closed session, the materials of the criminal case are classified. According to some information, testimonies against him were given by the former head of the 2nd Directorate of the FSB Information Security Center Sergei Mikhailov, who is serving his term under a similar article. Mikhailov said that Sachkov allegedly gave the FBI information about Russian cybercriminals and other data that is a state secret.