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Group-IB originated in Russia but relocated its headquarters to Singapore. Since 2015, they’ve provided information, knowledge, and statistical data to law enforcement agencies (Europol and Interpol) to aid in the fight against cybercrime.

At this time details about the accusations were not yet disclosed, but we know that a court in Moscow had decided for Sachkov to be detained for two months as a preventative measure.

Authorities carried out searches at Group-IB offices in Moscow that started early morning on Tuesday and lasted till evening.

The journalists from RTVI visited the Group-IB headquarters on Sharikopodshipnikovaya Street in Moscow.

A passenger bus and a minivan with tinted windows were parked near the building’s door, as a person was hauling items from the office to the bus.

The journalists were greeted by two armed men dressed in tactical clothing with masks on their faces at the building’s door, which did not allow media inside.

Journalists? Sorry, but we won’t let you inside, ”one of them explained politely. When asked if the building was being searched, the masked man joked: “They’re shooting a movie. Come in the morning.

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What Happened?

Ilya Sachkov, Group-IB’s co-founder and CEO, was detained on suspicion of committing a felony under Article 275 of the Russian Federation’s Criminal Code, which relates to high treason and has a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

High treason, that is espionage, disclosure of state secrets, or any other assistance rendered to a foreign State, a foreign organization, or their representatives in hostile activities to the detriment of the external security of the Russian Federation, committed by a citizen of the Russian Federation, shall be punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of 12 to 20 years with confiscation of property or without such confiscation.

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Sachkov will be imprisoned until November 27, 2021, as a result of the judgment by the Moscow District Court of Lefortovo. The company’s lawyers are now reviewing the judgment, according to a statement released today by Group-IB, but no comment on the accusations has been made.

The press service of Group-IB does not comment on the charges brought forward and the circumstances of the criminal case in connection with the procedural actions

Source

At this time Dmitry Volkov, the second Group-IB co-founder, became the manager of the company.

The reasons for arresting Sachkov remain unclear so far.

Russian publications believe that Group-IB has been under pressure from the country’s Federal Security Service (FSB) as it refused to cooperate with the intelligence agency outside official contracts or on political issues.

Sachkov criticized Russia’s disregard for criminal hackers that targeted victims in other countries, and this attitude might have been the reason for the ill reputation he’s having.

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Dora Tudor

Cyber Security Enthusiast

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Dora is a digital marketing specialist within Heimdal™ Security. She is a content creator at heart - always curious about technology and passionate about finding out everything there is to know about cybersecurity.

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