Alexander Vinnik’s Lawyer: The Trial Date Still Not
RegulationBit News Today1 min read
At a court hearing, Alexander Vinnik denied operating the cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e. In the courthouse he described himself as merely a technician who had worked for BTC-e.
The accused operator is sought by U.S. authorities and faces allegations of running an unlicensed exchange and facilitating $4 billion in money laundering, all without a license. His lawyers avoided contesting extradition in Greek court, even while the court ponders extradition to Russia over a separate set of charges.
He was arrested on holiday in Greece, in July, after the sudden closure of the exchange. A sealed indictment and a $110 million fine came shortly after the exchange was shuttered, with Vinnik remaining in Greece.
Meanwhile, the Russian government sought to extradite Vinnik on separate charges, criticizing the verdict as an unjust breach of international law. Legally, the Russian request should take priority as Vinnik is a Russian citizen.
The official statement made no mention at all about BTC-e operations or the specific crimes Vinnik stands accused of. An appeal by his defense team could ultimately leave the decision on where to extradite Vinnik up to the Greek Justice Ministry.
