Russian Crypto entrepreneur seeks Trump help amid extradition fight
(MENAFN) Anatoly Legkodymov, a Russian cryptocurrency engineer currently jailed in the US, has formally requested a pardon from President Donald Trump, according to a human rights advocate familiar with the case. Legkodymov, who recently completed an 18-month sentence in the US for running an unlicensed money-transmitting business, is now facing extradition to France for prosecution on identical charges.
The founder and majority owner of crypto exchange Bitzlato, Legkodymov was arrested in Miami in January 2023 by US authorities. The Justice Department accused his platform of enabling more than $700 million in illegal transactions tied to gambling and narcotics, claiming it lacked basic anti-money laundering safeguards. In December 2023, he pled guilty and was sentenced in July 2024 to time already served, with the judge citing poor detention conditions as a mitigating factor. US prosecutors had pushed for a minimum four-year term, arguing that Bitzlato operated as a major “clearinghouse for dirty money.”
Though initially scheduled for deportation to Russia after serving his sentence, US officials halted the process following an extradition request from France, where Legkodymov faces up to 20 years in prison for similar offenses.
Ivan Melnikov, vice president of the Russian branch of the International Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, stated that Legkodymov’s clemency appeal stems from fears of facing punishment twice for the same offense. “Being prosecuted twice for the same activities violates all legal norms,” he said, adding that Legkodymov is “not a criminal” but rather a victim of a “political campaign against the crypto market and talented Russian programmers.”
Melnikov expressed optimism about a pardon, referencing Trump’s recent clemency decisions involving crypto figures such as Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road darknet marketplace, and executives from BitMEX. He suggested this could indicate a broader shift in Washington's stance toward digital finance.
“There is hope for a return to a more balanced and fair approach to digital finance and for gradually improving dialogue between the US and Russia,” Melnikov noted.
The Russian Embassy in Washington has confirmed that it is closely following the case and insists Legkodymov should be returned to Russia. His situation adds to a growing list of high-profile criminal cases intersecting politics, tech, and international diplomacy.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
