TLDR
- Former Moscow investigator Marat Tambiev faces 16-year sentence over 1,032 Bitcoin bribe
- Russian authorities have begun converting seized cryptocurrency worth 1 billion rubles
- Tambiev accepted bribes from Infraud Organization to protect their criminal assets
- Two other officials involved – one sentenced to 9 years, another remains fugitive
- Further legal action targets additional assets including property and cryptocurrency
Russian bailiffs have initiated the process of converting 1,032 Bitcoin to state revenue, marking a new phase in a corruption case that shook Moscow’s law enforcement community. The cryptocurrency, valued at approximately one billion rubles, was seized from former chief investigator Marat Tambiev following his conviction in a bribery scandal.
The case unfolded in Moscow’s Tver District, where Tambiev held the position of chief investigator with the Russian Investigative Committee. Court documents reveal that while investigating the Infraud Organization, a notorious hacking group, Tambiev chose to betray his duties for personal gain.
Rather than pursuing the criminal investigation, Tambiev struck a deal with members of the hacking group. He agreed to protect their illegally obtained assets in exchange for a payment of 1,032 Bitcoin, creating a corrupt arrangement that would eventually lead to his arrest.
The investigation took a crucial turn when authorities searched Tambiev’s Moscow residence. During the search, investigators discovered a Ledger Nano X hardware wallet containing the Bitcoin, providing unmistakable evidence of the bribe’s existence and transfer.
The Nikulinsky Court of Moscow handed down its verdict in October 2023, sentencing Tambiev to 16 years in prison. Along with the prison term, he received a fine of 500 million rubles (about $5.2 million) and lost his law enforcement rank.
The court’s punishment extended beyond immediate penalties. Tambiev faces a 12-year ban on holding government positions after completing his prison sentence, effectively ending any future career in public service or law enforcement.
The corruption scheme reached beyond Tambiev alone. His subordinate, Kristina Lyakhovenko, received a 9-year sentence in a general regime penal colony after being found guilty of accepting bribes and related charges. The case revealed a pattern of corruption within the department.
A third figure in the case, Dmitry Gubin, has yet to face justice. The former deputy head of the investigative department for the Tverskoy District remains at large, with law enforcement continuing their efforts to locate and apprehend him.
The Prosecutor General’s Office has expanded their investigation into Tambiev’s assets. New lawsuits seek to seize additional property, including a motorcycle and real estate holdings, which prosecutors believe were purchased with proceeds from illegal activities.
The process of converting the seized Bitcoin represents uncharted territory for Russian authorities. The bailiffs must carefully manage the liquidation of such a large cryptocurrency holding while ensuring compliance with financial regulations and avoiding market disruption.
The choice of Bitcoin as a bribe payment highlighted the evolving nature of corruption. Traditional cash bribes have given way to cryptocurrency transactions, which criminals often mistakenly believe provide better security and anonymity.
However, the digital nature of cryptocurrency worked against Tambiev. The hardware wallet storing the Bitcoin created an electronic record that helped prosecutors build their case against the former investigator and his accomplices.
The technical aspects of the case posed unique challenges for investigators. They needed to verify the Bitcoin’s origin, document its transfer, and secure it properly as evidence – tasks that required specialized knowledge of cryptocurrency technology.
The conversion of the seized Bitcoin to state revenue marks the final chapter in this corruption case. Once completed, the funds will enter the Russian treasury, concluding one of the country’s largest cryptocurrency-related asset seizures.
Law enforcement officials continue to process the remaining aspects of the case, including tracking down the fugitive Gubin and securing additional assets believed to be connected to the corruption scheme.
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