US Court Denies Bail to Russian in Technology Export Case

Houston court on Friday denied bail to Alexander Posobilov, a defendant in a high-profile illegal technology export case in the United States, defense lawyer Alexei Tarasov said.

Tarasov told RIA Novosti that the judge ruled to keep Posobilov in custody.

He also said Svetalina Zagon, not a Russian citizen, was released on bail at the beginning of hearings.

Eight members of an alleged secret Russian military procurement network were arrested earlier this week in Houston. They include four Russian nationals: Alexander Fishenko, Posobilov, Viktoria Klebanova and Anastasia Diatlova. Three suspects are still at large and believed to be outside the United States.

The FBI in New York said on Wednesday that 11 suspects had been charged with illegally exporting military technology to Russia, namely microelectronic components destined for Russia’s intelligence and military agencies.

The main suspect, described as an “agent of the Russian government,” was named as 46 year-old Fishenko, who heads an American company called Arc Electronics, and a Moscow-registered company called Apex System.

The four accused Russians deny any wrongdoing, Tarasov earlier told RIA Novosti.

Hearings on whether to keep in custody other suspects will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

 

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