Russian Vladimir Drinkman, accused of hacker attack in the USA, did not admit his guilt

Russian Vladimir Drinkman, accused by the US authorities of organizing one of the largest hacker attacks in the history of the country, insists on his innocence. He made the corresponding statement on Tuesday at a court session in the American city of Newark (New Jersey).

The meeting in Newark lasted about 15 minutes. Drinkman appeared in court wearing a yellow prison uniform and handcuffs. The Russian was read his rights, and then 11 counts of indictment. His interests are represented by two lawyers - Bart Stapert and Florian Midel. Stapert handled the Russian case in the Netherlands, from where he was extradited to the United States last Friday, February 13.

What Russians and Ukrainians are accused of

According to the investigation, Drinkman, as well as three other citizens of Russia and a citizen of Ukraine were involved in organizing hacking computer networks of more than 15 companies and stealing numbers on the order of 160 million credit cards. The victims of the fraudsters were, including, NASDAQ, JetBlue, JC Penney and 7-Eleven, French retailer Carrefour and Belgian bank Dexia. According to prosecutors, this hacker attack has become one of the largest in the history of the country. Damage is estimated at more than 300 million dollars. The defendants conducted criminal activities from 2005 of the year to the summer of 2012.

“We intend to challenge the charges and achieve Vladimir’s return to Russia, where his three-year-old daughter is waiting for him,” the correspondent said. TASS Stapert. According to him, the next court hearing is scheduled for April 27, 2015, however, most likely it will be postponed. The Russian faces up to 30 years in prison in the United States. In the coming days, employees of the Russian Consulate General in New York intend to visit him in prison.

Four Russians and a Ukrainian were indicted in absentia by a court in New Jersey, with Drinkman being the main suspect. He and another Russian citizen, Dmitry Smilyanets, were arrested in the Netherlands in 2012 at the request of American authorities. Smilyanets was extradited to the United States; in August 2013, he declared his innocence in court and is still in custody. In January of this year, a Dutch court allowed Drinkman's extradition to the United States. Russia also sought the extradition of the suspect. The Russian himself stated that he wants to be extradited to the Russian Federation, where his daughter and ex-wife live. Three other accused - Russians Roman Kotov, Alexander Kalinin and Ukrainian Mikhail Rytikov - are still wanted.