The Russian Embassy seeks a telephone conversation with Alexander Vinnik

The Russian embassy in Washington is seeking a telephone conversation with extradited to the US Alexander Vinnik, the alleged ex-co-owner of the BTC-e exchange.

The head of the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Washington, Nadezhda Shumova, said that the service intends to provide Vinnik with all the necessary legal assistance. Recall that last Thursday Alexander Vinnik was extradited from France through Greece to the United States.

“US authorities have told Russian diplomats that Vinnik is being held at Santa Rita Prison, Alameda County, California. We seek a telephone conversation with a compatriot and provide him with the necessary consular and legal assistance. The Embassy continues to closely monitor the situation,” Shumova said.

The US Department of Justice, which performs the functions of the Prosecutor General’s Office in the country, said that Vinnik is accused of laundering from $4 billion to $9 billion through the now defunct BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange. At the same time, Vinnik himself does not recognize the charges brought against him, as he said on Friday at the first meeting in a California court.

US Attorney’s Office deprived Alexander Vinnik the opportunity to be released on bail for the duration of the investigation. The next court hearing in Vinnik’s case will take place on August 15. In the US, he faces 50 years in prison for money laundering.

At the end of 2019, the Greek Ministry of Justice ordered “to prepare documents and ensure the transfer of Vinnik to US representatives.” However, the chairman of the fourth department of the State Council later ordered that the execution of the extradition order be temporarily suspended.