Andrea Innocenti Russian authorities have intensified investigations into those using cryptocurrencies to support perceived extremist causes. In this context, the case of Yury Belenky , a 49-year-old computer scientist with a Bulgarian residence permit, has become a symbol of a new wave of repression. Arrested in Moscow last September, Belenky remained in pre-trial detention until his appearance before the 2nd Military Court of the Western District.
Military court sentence: three years in prison plus ten years in a strict regime colony
The judge found Belenky guilty of financing terrorism, handing him a total sentence of 13 years: three years in prison followed by ten years in a strict penal colony. The decision was announced on October 27, just days after the authorities closed the case.
Despite protests from the defendant, who denied any wrongdoing, the court deemed the evidence provided by the investigation sufficient.
Binance's Decisive Role in Rebuilding Financial Flows
According to court documents, Binance handed over Belenky's entire transaction history to Russian law enforcement, including transfers to Ukrainian fundraising campaigns.
Authorities requested the data in response to a specific investigation, and the archives linked the payments to Ukrainian military organizations . Binance, which ceased operations in Russia in 2023, stated that it has no authority to determine the laws of any jurisdiction and does not comment on individual cases, but its cooperation was crucial to the conviction.
Donation Details: Over $700 to Ukrainian Campaigns
Records show that Belenky sent more than $700 to fundraising initiatives in response to an appeal from former journalist and Kremlin critic Arkady Babchenko. Some of this money went to the Azov Brigade and Azov Regiment, units Moscow considers a threat to national security. The donations, supporters said, were intended for the purchase of medical equipment and Ukrainian military training.
Broader implications: cryptocurrencies, terrorism, and human rights
Belenky's case is part of a growing trend of persecution against donors who use cryptocurrencies to support causes deemed extreme by the Russian government. Human rights organizations, such as First Department, emphasize that many defendants believed in the anonymity afforded by digital currencies, but the investigation has proven otherwise. Lawyer Yevgeny Smirnov called Binance's cooperation "key evidence" in the criminal case, while privacy experts point out that the company, despite having left the Russian market, could have found itself in a vulnerable position under European data protection regulations due to Belenky's Bulgarian residency.