Two administrators of the Garantex cryptocurrency exchange are facing charges in the US for aiding the laundering of illicit funds.
Charges Against Garantex Administration
The US Department of Justice has charged Lithuanian Aleksej Besciokov and Russian Aleksandr 'Mira' Serda with sanctions violations and money laundering through the Garantex exchange. Both administrators are accused of knowingly facilitating illegal transactions.
Collaboration With Criminal Groups
Prosecutors claim Besciokov and Serda provided money laundering services to hackers and terrorist organizations. Evidence presented alleges their involvement in processing transactions linked to cybercrime and terrorism, alongside active evasion of sanctions.
Long-term Monitoring of Garantex
US authorities have been monitoring Garantex for some time. The exchange was sanctioned in 2022 for financially supporting criminal groups and sanction violations. Recently, over 26 million dollars of its assets were frozen.
The Garantex case continues to be a focal point for international judicial and sanctions bodies. Further investigative findings and actions are anticipated.
