There is a high chance of a possible swap deal for Vinnik.
Perhaps Alexander Vinnik, the Russian co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, hoped to regain his independence. Vinnik is currently facing money laundering charges in the US and has been pushing for release by a “prisoner swap” deal since last September.
according to Wednesday’s WSJ reportsHowever, the freedom movement has now gained new momentum. Vinnik’s lawyer, David Rizk, is reportedly putting together a case to be included in any prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States. It’s for WSJ reporter Ivan Gershkovich, who was arrested by Russian authorities in March. Rijk wrote:
“Mr. Vinnik should be allowed … to answer the charges against him and publicly advocate engaging in a prisoner swap.”
Rizk’s statement is in line with an earlier court order that forbids Vinnik from publicly discussing his case. According to the public defender, Vinnik’s chances of engaging in such an exchange may depend on the promotion of his lobbying.
What are the chances of the release of Alexander Vinnik, the founder of BTC-e?
There is a high chance of a possible swap deal for Vinnik. Recall that when Gershkovich was arrested in Russia and accused of espionage, the American authorities condemned this act. At the time, they called it the “wrongful detention of an internationally respected journalist”, demanding his immediate release.
For several years, Russian officials have also remained in an extradition battle with US prosecutors over Vinnik, who was Arrested in Greece in 2017. He was later extradited to France, where he served two years in a French prison. And finally, he was finally extradited to america On August 5, 2022.
So, it can be a win-win situation for both the countries. After all, both governments are known for frequently trying to gain custody of their citizens who are held overseas and charged with serious wrongdoings.
A similar situation happened last December when the US brought WNBA star Brittney Griner out of Russian custody. The deal was a swap for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
BTC-e was founded in 2011, but was shut down by the US authorities in July 2017. The shutdown was in response to the role the exchange played in a wide range of cybercrimes.
Maiowa is a crypto enthusiast/writer whose conversational character is quite evident in his writing style. He firmly believes in the potential of digital assets and takes every opportunity to reiterate this. He is also an avid reader, a researcher, an astute speaker and a budding entrepreneur. However, away from crypto, Mayowa’s distractions include discussing soccer or world politics.
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