“It is forbidden to call anyone other than a lawyer”: a Russian detained at the request of the United States is detained in solitary confinement

Russian musician Denis Kaznacheev, who was detained in Germany at the request of the US Department of Justice, who accused him of cybercrime and money laundering, was placed in solitary confinement in Moabit Prison in Berlin. This was reported by RT his manager Denise Gluck.

“Denis was detained on May 29, but I found out about this only a week later. Now he is being held in solitary confinement in Moabit prison, he is forbidden to meet or call up anyone other than his lawyer, ”the source explained to RT.

According to Gluk, Kaznacheev never did business in the United States, and came to the States only for performances. Gluck notes that Kaznacheev "lived only with music" and never had problems with the law.

“The last time Denis came to the States in 2017,” the manager added.

At the request of the American authorities, Denis Kaznacheev’s arrest was announced on June 7. The musician’s friends reported this on his official Facebook page. They organized a collection of signatures and funds in support of it.

Acquaintances of the musician plan to submit a petition in a Berlin court during the consideration of the application for changing the preventive measure. The money will go to pay for keeping a Russian in prison and renting an apartment - without a permanent residence, the treasurers will not be able to count on the court to release him on bail. 

“We are pleased that many people are signing the petition. We will provide it when we ask the court that Denis be released from prison. Donations to him come from all over the world! It's amazing how much support he gets from people, ”said the musician’s manager, RT.

Laundered money on darknet

According to media reports, the US Department of Justice accuses Kaznacheev of participating in a “cyber mafia” and laundering more than $ 1 million through the Internet. According to TASS, citing a source familiar with the case, according to the agency, the Russian allegedly committed crimes over the past ten years. US authorities demand to extradite Treasurer to the States.

In turn, lawyer Jonathan Burmeister told Ruptly video agency that, according to investigators, the crimes were committed in Maryland in the eastern United States. Now the Russians are accused of laundering money through hidden networks - it will darken.

“Everyone knows that he is a musician. They tell me that he devoted all his free time to music and performances. In this regard, there is a suspicion that here we are talking about identity theft or that he was simply confused with someone. Perhaps someone used the IP address of the Treasurer, ”Burmeister explained to Ruptly video agency.

On June 9, he visited Moabit Prison and talked with Kaznacheev. 

“Denis is hard in prison because he is denied the right to call anyone. In addition, he has to fill out various papers in German, which he does not know. At the same time, Denis was not provided with a social worker who could help him in this, ”the lawyer emphasized.

Meanwhile, the American side has not yet provided any official comments on this criminal case. Berlin police confirmed the information on the arrest of Kaznacheev, but said that for further clarification should contact the US Department of Justice. The American department, in turn, refused to comment on the situation.

Maria Butina, a member of the expert council under the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation, who the US authorities accused of a criminal offense, said that an extradition treaty had been in force between Germany and the United States since 1980. According to the document, the Federal Republic of Germany, at the request of the United States, has the right to keep a citizen in an extradition prison until the time of extradition.

In an interview with RT, she noted that in this case, it will only be possible to achieve justice for Kaznacheev only if it is possible to attract public attention to the case.

“Kaznacheev’s support group did the right thing by creating a petition and urging people to help with money: from the first days of detention, he needs a qualified lawyer. Now it is necessary to attract as much media attention as possible to the arrest, and Kaznacheev himself should contact the representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The success of this case and the termination of the criminal prosecution are possible only if the public defends Kaznacheev, ”Butina said.