Anatoly Legkodymov, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato, is seeking a pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump amid extradition threats to France.
Plea for Pardon
Anatoly Legkodymov, a Russian engineer and co-founder of Bitzlato, has officially requested a pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump. This was revealed by his lawyer Ivan Melnikov, who also serves as vice president of the Russian branch of the International Committee for Human Rights.
Circumstances of the Case
Legkodymov was arrested in Miami in 2023 with assistance from France and charged with operating an unlicensed money exchange service. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, which he has already served while awaiting trial. However, following France's extradition request, U.S. authorities decided to keep him in custody.
Comparison with Other Cases
Legkodymov's case is not the first involving Russian cryptocurrency platforms encountering issues with Western law enforcement. Recently, Poland agreed to extradite Dmitry Vasiliev, the former CEO of Wex, while Alexander Vinnik, allegedly associated with BTC-e, was also subjected to extradition.
Legkodymov's request for a pardon from Trump highlights the growing scrutiny on Russian cryptocurrency exchanges within the international legal framework and the potential ramifications of such actions.
