The First Court of Appeals of the General Jurisdiction has upheld a 14-year prison sentence handed to Ilya Sachkov, the founder of Group-IB, on charges related to treason. This decision was reported by RIA News.
According to a statement from the Moscow City Court, the appellate ruling leaves the original verdict intact, and Sachkov’s appeal has not been granted. The proceedings were conducted without public access, with the court indicating that the matter included sensitive evidence that could not be disclosed in an open session.
Sachkov has remained in custody since September 2021. The case evaluation and hearings were held behind closed doors because confidential materials connected to the investigation were considered essential to the proceedings. Prosecutors had sought an 18-year sentence for Sachkov, arguing that he had harmed Russia’s national interests by providing classified information to foreign intelligence contacts. Sachkov has denied the charges, characterizing them as politically motivated and inconsistent with his record as an engineer who has repeatedly contributed to the nation’s security and technological capabilities. He has contended that he is not a traitor, spy, or saboteur, but a professional who has committed himself to his work and country.
Earlier this year, the Moscow City Court imposed a 14-year term in a maximum-security penal institution with an additional one-year restriction on freedom and a fine of 500,000 rubles, in connection with charges of treason.
Following the ruling, a former business ombudsman commented on the decision regarding the founder of Group-IB, noting the implications for the firm and the broader business community while underscoring the seriousness of the treason charges and the court’s adherence to legal procedures throughout the process. (Source: RIA News)